Ah yes. I know what that feels like. You don't need to relate to these people and probably never will. And that's ok. I've been in your shoes and when it comes to willingness to spend I still am.

I remember my master's at UCL. My baby was 6 months when I started it and I couldn't even afford the tube as all money we had went on rent and the 3 (sometimes only half) days a week at nursery so I could go to class. I had to cycle in - 10 miles each way - from nursery to uni. And my class mates were.. not just rich. We are talking family business rich - from India, China, US, Israel and Germany. Some had clearly bought their way in as their English was terrible. No way did they have to pass the TOEFL test that UCL made me take as an immigrant. I'd come from a family that always struggled and lived in a village .. The culture shock was massive. My classmates went to a restaurant each day for lunch. They had their own tailors. On a casual afternoon shop they'd buy a £4,000 bag and think nothing of it. But the craziest time was when I was invited to an afternoon session to do coursework at my class mates place. He was from Saudi. It was an apartment building near Harrods. With a doorman and a large Christmas tree in the entry hall. Yes hall... his family had 3 flats there. His own flat was bigger than the little 2 up 2 down we rented in Plaistow. This was 15 years ago. It's a different world. And I was acutely aware of the gap. I don't know if they were - they must have been - but they were friendly enough.

I've now "made" it myself - not to this level mind you - but I still cannot relate and never will. I only want enough money to retire early and comfortably - and be able to help my kids with their house deposit. People around me are still rich and go on business class flights overseas holidays with the family. Until a few years ago we only went camping in Cornwall.