In terms of being poor, yes money is the bottom line.
You cant go the supermarket and cash in a strong "interest in transcriptional regulation" for some soup or a roasted chicken. If you can, then please tell me how bro. But honestly, if you are staying single, have no kids then who cares what your quality of life is as long as you are happy and fulfilled. Its just when there are other people in the picture it becomes selfish. Like for me, I thought it was great my dad got do what he wanted to do with his life, but still thought it sucked I never had a birthday party with my friends or had to wear patched up clothes to school.