My husband and I could easily get a big house. In fact we sold our last one and decided to travel the states in an RV after my husband retired. Everyone thought we were crazy but we don’t think like them. Now we are settled down again and renting. My husband has a good pension and got a job and I just got a good paying job. We are well into the 6 figure income in our early 40’s but we refuse to go buy a big house and rake up debt (especially in this crazy housing market today, and our rent is low). We plan on sending our teen to a good high school for junior senior year and it will cost $30,000 yearly. We decided instead of getting big things we would rather have big experiences and not owe anyone anything. I don’t have to live like everyone else and I have less stress than most I think just by choosing to live below our means.