[lucysmom]

All of which indicate that irrespective of income, people spend up to the poverty level. Whether by spending savings, illegally earned money, borrowed money - whatever. People spend up to the poverty level even if they don't report that much income.

OK, so Regular contributions for support under Sources of income and personal taxes is cash? Right?

What is Gifts of goods and services? There are at least a couple dozen items and services listed under that. Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2001

Thanks, I missed that. The page is larger than my screen and I didn't scroll over far enough.

[Principled]

Why don't you go get the information? Maybe you could get a more recent expenditure report.

http://www.bls.gov/