Most people are also lousy at planning, failed to save adequately for retirement, pissed away money on unnecessary things like toys and vacation trips instead, failed to take full advantage of employer 401K match and other almost free money benefits, paid out the nose to put their kids thru some expensive college instead of sending them to community college for the first two years and telling them to get a part-time and summer job, and didn’t structure their careers to be able to obtain the best benefits (e.g. pension) or educational reimbursement that would have made it easier to work their way into higher-paying jobs.
If you’re earning $115K/year and have a net worth of only $1M, you’re an idiot. You’ve frittered away a fortune by keeping up with the Jones’.
I actually think vacation trips are something that families enjoy and remember for ever. I think more should spend time together. The problem is people like you who don’t think spending time together is a good investment. It is! And on your death bed that extra 5 grand in your bank account is not going with you. But the memory of that vacation will stay with those you left behind. America is going towards your thinking unfortunately. Probably a great reason we are in the mess we’re in.