You know how Homer Simpson regrets how he has three kids and no money, when what he really wants is no kids and three moneys?

Lots of people who are "high income" (by your definition) have kids. I've paid over $150,000 in day care for three kids. I'll probably pay the same sending them to college. ($150k will not be enough, but that's all I can pay. They can get financial aid or loans for the rest)

Family income $250k, but if I go out, it's to Chick-Fil-A or Chipolte. I have a big house, which is nice, until something breaks down and I have to take time off from work to meet contractors to get bids so that eventually it gets fixed. My wife and I buy new cars every 8-12 years. No luxury brands, just your basic Hondas and Toyotas. We put the max into our 401k each year, and also put about the same each year into a rainy day fund which I invest in low-risk mutual funds. When anybody tells me I'm rich, I say that it took two people getting 4 college degrees and almost 60 man-years of labor to get where we are.