Everything had changed. Things are not the same as they were years ago. Fifteen years ago downwards. Then someone could live a contented life with minimal money in their account, as goods and services were reasonably priced, labor was done with dignity, brothers looked out for one another, and there was no rivalry between individuals to outshine one another. However, things have changed drastically in the modern day. Hard work is not done with dignity. People are finding ways to make quick and fast money. Things are not affordable because of inflation, and no one wants to help others. Individuals are under pressure to live beyond their means to livelihood to feel classic to people around them. Furthermore, people see money to be the only thing that makes one stay relevant in the society they live in. Without money, someone won't be respected or regarded by their so-called friends or siblings
Just to offer a counterpoint, Americans have done all of those things for as long as I can remember. We've had
way higher inflation in the past, and people chasing a buck is nothing new. I personally don't remember a time when "someone could live a contented life with minimal money in their account". For that matter, with so much free entertainment being available on the Internet and so many cheap things available, I think you can live a
bare subsistence better than any other time in our nation's history. It's not glamorous to shop at Walmart for everything, but if you don't want anything fancy you can certainly live "okay".
I agree about people being
under pressure and I think that's the heart of the problem, as I eluded to above in my post: people are unhappy for
non-material reasons. From the standpoint of keeping yourself fed and sheltered and clothed and cheaply entertained, this is probably the best time ever to be an American.