That’s an interesting take and I did think it sounded that way when I wrote it and it gave me pause for thought.
Rich is subjective, I’d say we are comfortable, of course you need a base line of income to do these things, but as @Imanexcellentdrivercharliebabbit rightly said, there is an element of priorities in there.
i grew up really poor, the stereotypical benefit claiming parents, properly abusive too, so I understand not having money, I also earned it myself, I didn’t marry it my husband is successful, a high earner in his own right, but I earn double what he does.
On priorities. for example, I will never chose to fly business class or above. As I do so for work when I have to travel and I genuinly do not perceive it worth the money, it’s always about a 500- a thousand pounds an hour to sit there, sometimes more, sometimes less, obvs medium to long haul, and for me I work too hard to blow it like that, for me premium economy is just fine. And happy to go economy also,
my clothes yes I buy some new, but many I buy on vinted, always new to be fair, but it means I can buy a 300 pounds me and em dress for 100 and I also buy in the sales. I prefer to buy quality items, thay last, rather than fast fashion in abundance.
i don’t fill my house with flowers, I don’t buy expensive alcohol, I drink when i socialise, not at home. I don’t go out more than say twice a month normally to socialise, either out with husband or friends. I don’t buy coffees out or have takeaways.
my car is 13 years old, I bought it with 30k miles on the clock 10 years ago. It’s a 4x4 due to where I live, but in a decade I’ve put 20k miles on it. As we use it for local journeys when we need it, I’ve no intention of changing it until I have to, we use my husbands more.
as I grew up poor I chose to treat my daughter, she never expects or asks, ever, but like last night, I sent her a Neom candle as her work is stressful right now and her and her partner are buying a house and it’s also v stressful, my parents wouldn’t give me the shit off their shoes. I don’t want to be them.
so yes you need a baseline income , of course you’re right, but there is also choices in there which permit it and rich is subjective, to many people in the world, every single one of us in the uk is rich, we have running water, food, shelter.