I guess I consider it more individualistic and respectfully disagree. If a pharmacist is paying cash for a "fancy car" and is overall financially responsible, What is the basis for calling purchasing one the product of "fake wealth." If she is maxing out her 401K and other retirement accounts, aggressively investing in paper assets outside of retirement accounts, has no consumer debt, owns paid for rental property, has no mortgage on her personal residence, her having a "fancy car" is not fake. It is the product of actual wealth built and a desire to have nice things.
I struggle with your response because I've listened to Dave Ramsey off and on since 2006. One of his principles is "Drive like no one else so later you can Drive like no one else." It's a principle of delayed gratification (not absolute deprivation for the rest of your life). Maybe total deprivation motivates you, but it depresses me and plenty of others. There is a point where someone's wealth easily justifies fancy car, regardless of if they want it or not. There is nothing "fake" about them owning one. Calling someone like this stupid is not only uncalled for, it's really naive, as someone like this generally has greater financial accumen and wherewithtal than those "smart" people who never enjoy their money. Personally, I do believe it is very much an issue of affordiability. That said, I agree there are plenty of people who cannot afford a "fancy car", pharmacist or not.
