Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I don't know where you people live, but family vacations to Europe is not the norm where I grew up nor where I live now. Nor are ski lessons. You cannot become victim to peer pressure.
I grew up here and this was the norm and I live in nw dc and it is still the norm.
I grew up in upper NW DC and attended privates, and this was definitely the norm as well. My husband and I are very comfortable but cannot provide that lifestyle for our family with our joint income. I do feel badly about it because I know there is a whole group of people that are able to; in fact, sometimes I don't want to keep up with people I grew up with because they are all living that lifestyle (homes in upper NW, country clubs, kids in privates, designer clothes and fancy cars, trips, etc.) and it makes me feel badly. I know it's irrational as we work very hard and have done everything on our own while many of the folks I grew up with have trust funds and significant help from parents/grandparents, but I still feel that way. It's like being back in high school!