This fellow didn't live on the farm but in a big city. His monthly cash flow was just enough money to scrape by on.
My friend, who was an unofficial business associate of this guy, said the guy was intelligent and could have easily increased his income with just a little bit of consistent work. But the guy in question just couldn't get moving. He would talk a great game and make big promises, but then, after all the big talk, he would be late to meetings, stop returning phone calls, didn't keep his word (even with clients)...was just slack.
Even when he had the opportunity to improve his standard of living by doing just a little bit of work, he refused.
Eventually, he fell into a deep state of depression (which of course he blamed for his laziness).
My friend had an intervention with this guy and asked what was wrong. The guy wasn't on drugs and he didn't drink much...but he just complained that he couldn't get motivated.
I'm not saying this is standard behavior for everyone. But I have seen many people with stipends (from trust fund babies to people living on disability) and they are rarely what one might call "highly motivated."
I have two similar stories. My aunt just told me of an elderly lady she knows. Her late husband was committed to providing absolutely everything to their children. Two of the three died in their 50’s of a wasted lifestyle. The third is a complete life loser. The grandchildren are complete losers yet the old lady is in the process of buying a house for one of them and has him on a monthly stipend.
She’d be far better off jettisoning him into the real world by reducing the stipend 10% a month for ten months.
Another one was a bit different. I had a friend years ago who owned a successful business with his dad. They worked 12 hour days 6-7 days a week and amassed a small fortune. They bought canal front property and whenever they ran low, sold a plot of land. He actually tried to work but could never keep a job. He eventually got depressed and hung himself.
Those who don’t have their nose to the grindstone are often disheartened by the truth they see, which those with their nose to the grindstone don’t.
I have a relative who gets SSI and it is enough to rent a room in a house and have access to the rest of the place. They have refused to work a full or part time job for some 20 years since getting SSI which is about $800 a month.