One way is to minimize your responsibilities and requirements to maintain your lifestyle.
Most people get indoctrinated into a 1:1 relationship with what they make and their lifestyle cost.
Most people get indoctrinated into a 1:1 relationship with what they make and their lifestyle cost.
This turns into competing for best schools districts, which turns into paying as much as you can for land, to surround yourself with others who can pay at least as much as you can.
In the US, healthcare costs also keep people on their toes. Between health insurance premiums and annual out of pocket maximums, you need somewhere around $24k per year plus ~$34k emergency funds for 2 years worth of out of pocket maximum healthcare expenses for a family of 4.
If I was single or without kids, I would not necessarily care enough about any of that.