get off it BG, I am not addressing your values but rather society at large’s value. Growing up people I knew didnt have 3 TV’s or eat out every week. My best friend’s father was VP of sales and Marketing for a pretty large international company. They drove 2 simple american cars, lived in 1800 sq ft 2 story home w/ a 1 car garage, never travelled to Europe and rarely travelled anywhere but FLA to visit family. He had a big time job. When he retired, he was one of 2 co-founders of what was the #1 sports memorabilia company in the country and sold out at the peak when they went public for 8 figures and never altered their lifestyle much. Another good friends father was a physician and drove a Dodge dart until the wells fell off. They like most of the people I know lived simple comfortable lives but saved and retired comfortably.
I listen to the lifestyle CAR says she grew up around and wonder how much here and her DH’s parents retired with? I wonder whether they were living beyond their means and not saving much? I don’t know? Maybe she can fill us in?