You are right: the money is not that great for DMs (or Instructors).
Is there money to survive on? Depends on the kind of life you wish to live; if that's going to be your only job, get some additional training and skills in other areas such as disel mechanics, handyman type things, reg repair, and so forth. Then start looking with your new found credentials. I don't think that there's a lot of opportunities out there that one can survive on; I started looking about 6 years ago and found a place that would pay me $20000 a year, but that's working 12 hours a day 6 days a week in a store setting as a salesperson and instructor; I don't think so.
Cheers 