When a person groans about spending $1,000 on high quality Michelin AS4 tires for an appropriate car, they are being obstinate. Money is to purchase things for life, not the purpose in life. It doesn't take a lot if one sets expectations and standard of living appropriately.
Personally I've learned the corporate rat race is really detrimental to my handicap so I'm going to file for disability and continue to participate in society with my arts and letters. It's not quite UBI but it's close enough for my purposes. I grew up in a wealthy household - again, came up poor and seem obsessed with "investments" and "security" instead of enjoying the food and experiences those monies can buy - so I'm over it.
Yes it's nice to have nice things. I have some maintenance expenses I understand but can be flexible about in the short and long term. Strings, new music, alcohol and cannabis, it's all pretty low-key and low rent. The only thing I really need as a basecamp is electricity, air conditioning, indoor plumbing, food access and storage and cooking, and connection with the outside world by way of phone, car, or internet. That's all. Everything else is basically static and for whatever reason, it's getting more expensive.
"The only way to win is not to play" holds pretty true to me when it comes to US financial system and navigating the aspects of "real" property and life versus synthetic engineering for the sake of jargon. Source: Worked Wall Street muni bonds, derivatives, arbitrage rebate, and asset management ~$4B.
Also anybody have the address to Jack Welch's grave? Gonna get loaded like a freight train and give him the Thomas Kinkade-Walt Disney treatment. What a horrible human being.