[krn]

> But I've been very careful not to inflate my lifestyle too much. I don't have an expensive car. I don't go on expensive holidays.

That's what I noticed during my undergraduate years in the UK after growing up in continental Europe: "lifestyle" for most people in the UK from the young age is associated with spending money on material things and holidays, not pursuing life-long hobbies and interests.

In much of continental Europe people seem to be enjoying their lives a way more, despite often earning 2-3x lower salaries while doing similar jobs.

In my own country, even a person making 15k / year might have a second home in the countryside, where he spends every summer weekend with his friends and family.

[tonyedgecombe]

The UK is very similar to the US, the culture is quite individualistic which leads to a consumerist outlook. You can opt out of that but you won't get much support, indeed people will mostly push you towards it. The rot set in with Thatcher and it's got steadily worse since then.

[monadgonad]

> a second home in the countryside, where he spends every summer weekend

So, material things and holidays? All that says is that those things are cheaper for people outside of the UK.

[TomMarius]

The second home is usually a hobby by itself that includes building, woodworking, gardening, some light plumbing and electrical stuff etc. It's very different than a hotel or Airbnb.

[krn]

People without big salaries often have second homes because they built them themselves as a hobby over a long period of time on a plot of land they could afford.