Simple Dollar presents an interesting article on the dilemma most people face. They can actually be rich or they can have the trappings of it. You can drive the nice car and have the huge house, but typically that means you have a ton of debt and are dependent on an employer whether your like your job or not. Obviously there are some exceptions (think Bill Gates types) but for most of us, actually being financially independent means removing the trappings that don't matter to you. If you really care about your house, get the big house, but skip the Lexus. Or vice versa. Or better yet, do the small house and the reliable cheap car. Shove the rest of it into investments or savings. Then if something happens you don't have to worry as much.