Wants versus needs

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In cases where one earner is very well paid (six figure sums but not millions), where is the line drawn between something the lower earning ex "wants"/lifestyle choices as against something they need such as housing or food?
I know there is a guide to how they lived during the marriage but costs will be much higher with two homes.

There’s a huge difference between £3k and £5k net - with one parent also able to save for retirement over and above what the other parent receives.

@Mumof3confused Yes but the person on £3k is unlikely to be considered to be facing undue hardship. In rare cases the disparity might call for an adjustment to compensate the lower earner where they have given up a career and cannot build back up but in truth recipients of spousal maintenance after divorce are rarely people who gave up a career. They are much more likely to be people who never had a career and the court's objective is to avoid undue hardship for that party, not equality of income between the spouses.

I would be cautious over the school fees as well. Had a friend whose ex was a high earner and in conversation agreed to continue with fees. Assumed it would be up until 18…when secondary schooling and the ex new wife having twins there just wasn’t the money available any more. A lot of heartache for the children. I think unless it’s written and guaranteed maybe best to look now at state?

Same with gym and cars - she had to give up her car and buy one she could afford and maintain going forward. (Though the buying did come out of joint money at the time)