How are we defining "rich"? I don't consider myself super rich but in a fairly comfortable position. Hit 7 figure net worth when I was 38 years old and continues to grow (now 40 years old). I have a mortgage and car payment, but have enough investments I could go a long time without work if I wanted to. Don't plan to do so. Recently after a job loss did some extreme budgeting by choice rather than necessity---clipping coupons, not eating out, etc. Managed to stretch six weeks pay into about 12 weeks before next time I got a paycheck from new job. Didn't dip into my savings. Used some dividends/capital gains that would have been "fun money" instead as grocery money.

I still mow my own yard and wife and I don't have a maid. Wife works on occasion to keep her skills and I watch the baby while she works, otherwise she stays home with our child. No nanny and have spent a grand total of $400 or so on child care in 20 months.

We live in a nice home although far from extravagant. 2,500 square feet. Biggest display of wealth is an expensive car I purchased. To be clear I didn't buy it as a "display" but because I absolutely love the car. It is a joy. But aside from that nothing would suggest we are "wealthy" on the surface, if you define what we have as "wealthy".

We could have a lot more if my wife worked full time, or if I were more aggressive about work myself. I make considerably less than many of my peers in my field of work, precisely because I CAN, based on lifestyle choices we have made. Others who out earn me are spending it as fast as they make it. I have professional colleagues who spend our annual budget on nannies, private school, and daycare. We live comfortably on what they spend on those things alone, and save considerably. I like the pathway we have carved out for ourselves. Very little temptation day to day to spend more, although one day I would like to join a country club as a social outlet and somewhere for my family to go and unwind. Probably won't splurge on that for another year or two though.