The American dream does not take anything near $500k a year. It takes responsibility and hard work. Nothing more:
Get a real job and keep it until you can replace it with a better job. Don’t have kids until you are married. Don’t spend money you don’t have. If you send your kids to college, send them to one you can afford and require them to get a degree that supports a real job. Don’t wallow in greed and envy as you wonder what people who make $500k a year are doing with that money (we know what they’re doing - thanking Mommy Pelosi and Daddy Biden for the job opportunities on corporate boards, that and sleeping with strippers).
BUT I NEED to have a 5 bedroom 3 1/2 bath home.
I NEED to get a new car every two years.
I NEED to take that Hawaii vacation.
My 2.2 kids NEED to go to Private Universities.
I NEED to get Starbucks coffee every day.
I NEED to drive a BMW, Audi, or Mercedes.
I NEED to eat out at least twice a week.
I NEED to go to Aspen skiing.
My daughter NEEDS to have a horse.
MY son NEEDS to go to Karate lessons.
I NEED to belong to the Country Club.
I NEED my dry cleaning done.
I NEED to get my hair cut & styled.
MY wife NEEDS to go to her therapist.