I think you’re misunderstanding me. We don’t go out and buy booze at all, let alone expensive stuff. We rent a modest three bedroom home. We drive one 5 year old car. We have a couple months of bills set aside in savings. If that’s the minimum that people think they should have if considered thriving, then I think everyone should reevaluate their worth. I also work extremely hard, just like many people on this sub of all income levels. My wife works extremely hard as well. I really do think of income different once you reach a certain point, and my wife and I are not at that “level”. We have modest medical debt, and otherwise spend cash only. I could forgo my contribution to our retirement accounts, but that would be shooting myself in the foot. I guess my point is that you envision some fancier lifestyle when in fact we are just your very average couple with a live in in law.