i really appreciate how this thread has gotten into a serious life discussion kind of thing.
I agree mo money = more problems because a lot of times it comes with some level of aesthetic consistency. What I mean by this is that- when I was a pup, I was pretty content to roll around in a shredded pair of kicks and a deck with razor tail and some tiny wheels. A night on the town was ~$30 and that was okay.
As i got older, I got a job and started making "real" money and suddenly life is different. Have an apartment and expenses (life happens no big deal) but what's strange is the things that brought me joy and I always wanted in life wound up feeling disproportionate. In example, I always wanted an Eames chair, it was one of those bucket list life goals. When I move out / emancipate myself i'm going to buy an eames chair. So what did i do? I saved up the obscene amount of cash and when i moved out i threw down and bought the chair. Cool. Fulfilling. Pride. Much joy.
fast forward 5 years? Yeah the chair is cool but what's not cool is that since it's SO nice and SO expensive it makes everything in my apartment that's near it that isn't AS cool and AS expensive look like shit. So what happens? You buy NICER and MORE expensive shit to maintain the continuity.
I've found this applies to everything, got a rolex, congrats now you need nicer suits! nicer suits? watcha doing with that shitbox car? buy a benz. nice benz why do you live in the shitty part of town? move, newer place bigger need more furniture. etc etc etc on and on and on.
now your girlfriends shit isnt as nice as yours, looks / feels bad, bring her up to your level. etc etc etc.
I used to get a pressure crack in my deck and be like "oh whatever" now i go buy a new deck instantly because i work SO hard all day I DESERVE this nicest shit. Flatspots? no chance! etc.
not that i dont live within my means, i have savings and put money away for retirement and live comfortably, but it's an insatiable monster that I knew existed the first time i watched fight club when i was like 14 but didn't fully live with until i'm now 28.
maybe it's just my obscene OCD that fuels this, but maybe someone else will relate / chime in.
sorry for wall of text.
shalom.