>That's a level you can contribute to by being frugal.
J suspect that ceteris paribus, being frugal reduces happiness - by definition, it's not getting things you want to get.
J suspect that ceteris paribus, being frugal reduces happiness - by definition, it's not getting things you want to get.
Once you can afford something that was way out of reach before, you buy it and after the first few moments you realize it is not as great as you expected. Do this a few times, and you'll learn what is important. The more wealthy people I know do have a slightly above average car and house, but IME the biggest difference is that they have far more extreme - both in amount and in price - experiences, i.e. weekend trips, fine wining and dining etc.
Higher earners tend to just upgrade and spend more (apartment, clothes, restaurants, hotels etc), and aren't really living that differently - that lifestyle can certainly soak up maximum income achievable in a salaried job.
I think this is what the article inadvertently pointed to, that the higher salaries could lead to a sense of frustration that nothing really changed.