Consume or save?

I don’t agree with that so generally. Priorities change. Whether it’s due to age, life circumstances, or major events, that remains to be seen. A bachelor might really spend everything and "live" extravagantly, only to think about house, family, and retirement provision as a new father.

Someone who has always lived hand-to-mouth in their parents’ house and actually learned to live very frugally might, with the first well-paid job, no longer watch every euro and even swing to the opposite.

I agree with you that slowing down is always harder than living large after years of hunger.

But someone who has two to three children within a short time might voluntarily (not for financial reasons) no longer go on vacation 4 times a year, because vacation with children is rarely just that but often requires another vacation from them. Better to send the kids to the garden at home and read a book relaxed in the living room.

I don't agree with that so generally. Priorities change. Whether it's due to age, life circumstances, or drastic events, let's leave that open. A bachelor might really spend everything and "live" extravagantly, only to think about house, family, and retirement provision later as a new father. Someone who has always lived hand to mouth in their parents' house and actually learned to live very frugally might, with the first well-paid job, no longer watch every euro and even go the other way. I agree with you that scaling back is always harder than living large after years of scarcity. But someone who has two to three children in a short time might voluntarily (not for cost reasons) no longer go on vacation 4 times a year, because vacation with children is rarely just that, but often requires another kind of vacation. Then rather send the children to the garden at home and relax reading a book in the living room.

I find it hard to believe that one scales back consumption so much just because now the goal is a house. But interesting assumption that I can confirm for us. I agree with you that scaling back is always harder than living large after years of scarcity. Is comparable to the lockdown...

It's also a question of generation - maybe that's why we have such a low homeownership rate in Germany. My impression is that there was a much greater willingness in my parents' generation to limit (already much less pronounced) consumption for their own house. Many older people in my circle of acquaintances have retained this frugality to this day, even though they don't need to. Today, it seems painful for some to do without things like the latest smartphone, an expensive car, or the umpteenth long-distance trip.

It's also a question of generation - maybe that's why we have such a low home ownership rate in Germany. My impression is that there was a much greater willingness in my parents' generation to limit consumption (which was far less pronounced anyway) for their own house. Many older people in my circle of acquaintances have retained this frugality to this day, even though they don't need to. Today, it seems painful for some to do without things like the newest phone, an expensive car, or yet another long-distance trip.

well, we were also raised by the economy like that

constant advertising, mobile phones, package tours

everything affordable

I find it hard to believe that consumption is reduced just because the goal is now a house.

No, I mean, the cause-and-effect chain is often different than what you assume.

So not:
Bachelor->Family->House->having to restrict oneself
But:
Bachelor->Family->No desire/time to spend money on hobbies and travel->restricting oneself (as a side effect)->House

It’s just a theory, which I can certainly confirm from my circle of acquaintances.

Regards

Tolentino

There's some truth to that. Maldives for two 7K€, Maldives for four 14K€. The former was possible, the latter not, or I don't see why I should spend that much on a vacation. The kids don't care anyway whether it's Malle or Male.