I was raised in a small rural community where everyone older had lived through the depression. Just having basic amenities like electricity, your own well, or a telephone line were luxuries and greatly appreciated and never taken for granted. Folks had to save up for years to finally afford having power brought in or a well drilled because things like this had to be paid for up front and banks would seldom loan for these things. Viewing finances and budgeting from this perspective of appreciation for what you do have rather than what you do not have can serve one very well.
There is a difference between “wants” and “needs”. And if you can work on the “cash up front or you don’t really need it” principle it is quite easy to live comfortable within your means. Question is what is your perspective of “comfortable”?, Having a bigger house, and bigger lawn, or a bigger lawnmower than all your neighbors? Or having the time to go fishing while all your neighbors work their butts off trying to maintain these competitive status symbols?
Myself... I am going fishing and appreciate not having to beat myself up trying to be more “status comfortable” than my silly neighbors. lol
I agree 100%. We never traded up like many in our town. We stayed in the same small home despite our family size growing.
We don’t have 50k cars in our driveway. We own 2 cars one with 90k other 100k. I drove the last one 14 yrs til died on side of road.
My mom grew up in the country. They had an outhouse for many years til plumbing installed. She said living in country easier than city cousins. At least they could grow vegetables in Garden. Grandpa had a small business. She said it provided extra rations probably during WWII.