"for no real reason other to telegraph status or ambition."

That would be status for status' sake, which is not what I said above, right?

Let's say you've finally found a career that you're good at, gives you some satisfaction, and pays decently. Yes, you could do what so many do and go out and just spend it all $$$$ yaya high rolla, showin off, etc... but really, that's stupid, fickle, and will leave you feeling empty at the end of the day because you're not doing something you want to do and then you'll be outta money for no good reason.

But is there anything you want to do that requires money? Anything? Money would allow you to take up a new hobby, for example, one that lets you pursue and exercise virtue, off the top of my head: learn/buy an instrument, take up a sport that requires expensive equipment, travel to interesting places, etc... all these require money, to some degree, and all three of those attract like minded ppl, sometimes for the right reasons

I'm using a bit of the stoic paradigm here "pursue your virtue for it's own sake, it will bring it's status" but the same applies to Epicurean Ataraxia, ex: pursue an instrument or an art that enhances Ataraxia, even if it's a little base?

You'd be approaching this from a completely different perspective than 99% of people, so don't use people without any philosophical training as "what will happen to me," it's not inevitable that money/status take over your soul, there are those that can resist and simply use money/status as the tool it is. The ancient world is filled with these example, here's one: Cato the younger: rich motherfucker, still chose to die a death in virtue rather than live a life of plenty without it, his philosophical training enabled him to ignore the "good" that most people see (safety/money) and instead chose a higher good, death at his own hands.

Sorry to mix Stoicism into an Epicurean subreddit, lol, but like the ancients I draw from whatever well is useful.

It's easy to use philosophy to "not try" in life in the things that most people try at, "oh, that's not important, I have higher goals", but a lot of times that's just bullshit that people tell themselves to not face the pain of trying and failing, it's difficult to hussle. Hardcore Epicureans miiiight say that's good, since it's avoiding pain directly, but by doing that you'll be inviting a greater pain as you age, mediocrity & loneliness.