I could do everything you say and, as long as I work for a company, reduce my total tax payments by maybe 2 or 3%. In California, our sales tax is headed toward 10%. There are unavoidable gasoline taxes. Special assessment taxes on everything. Local utility taxes. County taxes. Real estate taxes. The tentacle of government are long and the consequences of avoiding any of these taxes are very heavy. There’s really no way to starve the beast except by electing the next Ronald Reagan — and even he couldn’t abolish entire useless departments in the government.
Some folks have children and are already just getting by. Some folks have debt and are just getting by. But many of us can find ways to reduce our income. Work fewer hours. Take a month of leave without pay. Be creative.