My parents were very frugal - growing up in a developing country, I always wondered why they had a "budget" for everything, despite the fact that my parents earned well. They had only one kid (me) because they wanted to make sure I could go to the very best private schools, and they saved the rest away in real estate, savings, or good jewelry. Now in their 60s, they just bought a beautiful beach house, have a maid, and have enough savings to live an affluent lifestyle at an age when comfort matters the most. Even so, they continue to earn in their older age (mostly because they get bored), live frugally, and lead a very unassuming but comfortable lifestyle. That's a big motivating factor for me (and the fact that they told me all their savings are going to charity).
My wife, in comparison, grew up poor (i.e. no running water in the middle of nowhere poor). She joined the military to get the GI bill, and now goes probably to the best school in the world on her own.
So, I realized that I should be grateful for a good job, great pay, and a comfortable lifestyle - and got down to saving!
