I agree with Reha’s sentiments - money is not the measure of a man - but parents do look at a guy’s earning potential. The guy does not need to have a lot of money or a phenomenal salary, but he needs to be able to show her parents that he can financially provide for her and is he commited to providing their daughter with a comfortable life in the long term (i.e. if he loses his job, he has the ability and the desire to seek other employment).
Defining a “comfortable life” is where one set of parents differs from another. Most parents are looking to see that the guy can put a roof over her head, pay for their living expenses without it being a burden on him. He can rent instead of buying a home, and yes the couple does NOT need two cars, two vacations, new annual wardrobes, etc. But, most parents do not want to see their daughters struggling financially where every month keeping up with the bills is a stressful challenge on the couple.
I agree - money matters, but how we perceive money and what we want from money differs from person to person.