i get impression that most make over 30k/year.
30K is not wealthy unless you are debt free and that's just your monthly utilities/spending money.
My parents made less than that and we were always clean and well-fed. Poor should not mean dirty. All it takes is soap, elbow grease and will-power to keep your environment clean and organized, EVEN with a dozen kids. I think the uncleanliness that tends to go along with poverty is more a symptom of the depression that can go along with not being able to provide. Most trads I've met are pretty put together as far as that goes, even if poor.
I would also say that 30K isn't all that much! Maybe for a single person living alone...
But to support a family? That's pretty challenging EVEN IF you have no debt. It would take a constant frugal mindset.
And I completely agree with you about cleanliness. Soap isn't expensive, nor are old newspapers and rags which can be used to clean with. Anyone who is dirty *wants to be dirty* or they simply don't care. NO EXCEPTIONS. I know it sounds harsh, but it's true. Poverty has NOTHING TO DO with being lazy, a slob, dirty, or unsanitary.
The Holy Family was poor, but I guarantee you they didn't have pizza boxes or moldy food rotting on the floor. The Blessed Mother and St. Joseph were hard workers. I'm sure the Blessed Mother would be an example of the "prudent woman" mentioned often in the Sapiential Books of Scripture (industrious, hard working, etc.)
I could hit absolute rock-bottom as far as wealth, situation, possessions, etc. was concerned, but I still wouldn't wallow in my own filth. I'd make a point to "ease nature" somewhere away from where I sleep, try to keep things clean, etc.
Matthew