It's called "BEING PRACTICAL!" And just about anyone can do it, no matter where they are from. Trouble is, in some parts of the world, the businesses are always on the psychological attack with their advertising campaigns that chip away at a person by beating a drum with the message ... "YOU NEED THIS or YOU WANT THIS."
Most multi generational US Citizens are well trained to buy, to shop and to have or replace. They can't help themselves because they have been trained to act this way since the day they were born. Advertising and peer pressure are the major sources.
Now there is a difference between being cheap and being frugal. Not going into that now. BUT - For the most part, if a person shops wisely, with attention to the future, they can get what they need, or want and get a long use out of whatever it is that they bought. Also, with respect to recreational items, people have no attention span for what they have and want something more to stay engaged / entertained. All this consumerism comes at the cost of financial freedom.
A person with a good salary, who is disciplined can be well on the path to a great retirement, or even many years earlier retirement ... by simply conquering their urges. And if retirement isn't the goal, they can be living life on their own terms with financial independence very early in life. Still youthful with decades to live and enjoy in front of them.
Sadly ... SHOPPING IS ENTERTAINMENT in The US. Most people do not know how to enjoy the simple things, such as a meal with family of a day out in nice weather. (There are million other things to mention depending upon your interests.) Most Americans don't cook from scratch ... no wonder they have health problems and credit card debt ...
Just a few thoughts on you post ...
For me, I'll take the simple life, the basics to operate a household, a few great possessions that I will always be interested in ... then a ban k account flush with money = That is code for FREEDOM. You only have as much freedom as you have money.
NECESSITY is The Mother of INVENTION - So I would say that ... FINANCIAL NEEDS are the FATHER of FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY???