not sure Sara. To each their own I guess?
For some, even though they earn enough to buy the luxuries they want, they wont. They are content with what they have and try to stay within reasonable limits. Others, who may not have a lot of monies, they may spend more on luxury items than someone who really can afford it without any trouble.
It really depends on what you want.. or whats more important for you
you really dont know someones circumstances. Some people want their kids to get the best educaiton they can (in their means) and the dad will work overseas.. work hard all his life so he can get all his kids through good schools.. whilst the kids may be living elsewhere. Yes, maybe at teh end of the day they may not have a very close relationship… but for them, seeing their children succeed is enough. And for the kids to be able to support their parents in their old age, is well worth it.
Not everyoen measures happiness the same way.
There are other fathers who work all their life overseas so they can get their kids married.
There are sons living overseas, working insane hour shifts.. sacrificing their degrees so they can pay off their parents debts.. gets siblings married. They may lose the closeness to their fam in one way, in another way.. they have gained the respect of generations to come.