Re:Its a matter of perspective (Score 2, Interesting)

It's time to challenge your assumptions. A large income can be spent on things besides the frivolities you mentioned. Healthcare has become increasingly expensive, and, unless you and your family don't mind suffering from untreated illnesses, good health insurance, and the money to supplement it if your plan doesn't think you need something, are going to require some serious money. Then there's education. Perhaps one of the most important things a parent can provide for their child is a good, solid education. Aside from increasing their earning power, it will allow them to get more interesting, rewarding work as well as provide opportunities for them to meet interesting people. These days even a good State School could cost 15k or 20k, per child, in tuition alone. When you throw in living costs, books, etc. you're talking about serious money. Graduate or Professional school? Throw on another 75 to 120k depending on what your kids want to do. Money is also useful when disaster strikes. Say, for example, your entire city becomes submerged in water and your insurance company screws you. Having a big income and a stable job can make that situation, while still awful, lot easier. You can't use money to buy your way to happiness, but you can can use it to buy your way out of all sorts of miseries and stressors.