These families live in unglamorous older homes, endure long commutes from the exurbs and forgo new clothes, cars, dinners out and fancy vacations.

Remember, we drove expensive cars and went on fancy vacations.

The point is, sweetheart, that money, or BMWs, or fancy vacations, or bachelorhood none of those things mean anything without you.

Do you think there's any real counter-argument to the notion that none of us have any moral right to buy expensive clothes or eat at restaurants or go on fancy vacations?

It's one thing if the rich can afford bigger houses or fancier vacations than ordinary families; Americans accept such differences cheerfully.

"You're very aware of the fact that when you stop working there'll be no new car every few years, no fancy vacations, no eating out as often," Mrs. Koestner said.

That they wear fine feathers and take fancy vacations signifies nothing about them other than an accident of birth.

The luxury cars, the big houses, the fancy vacations.

I had become so passive about my finances that I believed things like owning a home, buying a new car and taking fancy vacations were dreams I'd never fulfill.

"We didn't take fancy vacations," she said.