I’m far from wealthy but whatever money I have managed to accrue is largely due to my personal lifestyle, which has some similarities with the lifestyles of old money families. What money I do have, I protect by refusing to trade up all the time, and instead, focusing on paying off what I have so that I actually own it and carry less debt. My motto has been debt-free with lowest overhead possible. My lifestyle accordingly must align. I do find it interesting that middle-class families seem to have trouble passing on a legacy to their children. Casein point, grandma‘s house when she dies is quickly sold, and the money divided, rather than someone in the family, using the house and keeping it in the family as they grow family wealth. Very few middle-class people seem to desire living debt-free, and in the end pass on their debt to their children.