LOL!
Of course you CAN live off $33k. If you live in a city, and are barely getting by on $33k after having every opportunity to succeed, you have failed miserably somewhere along the line, with a few exceptions (live in extremely low COL area, or have good reason to be making $33k). "I'm an English major working as a secretary" just doesn't cut it.
This is not to rag on all English majors, there are those doing PI work, and those who put their heads on a swivel and get by just fine after college.