Are social norms and following them the cause of most American's financial problems?

Question

Society tells you to do so many things that you don't need to survive that puts your life in a financial spin with marriage, procreation and fitting-in topping the list IMO.

I just find it ironic that the vast majority of people I know who are doing well are >30, no kids and single. Maybe that "delayed adulthood" theory in the field of sociology has some great benefits for males and why so many people are following it.

Great Article:

http://www.npr.org/blogs/talk/2008/01/rejuvenile_redux.html

Are social norms and following them the cause of most American's financial problems?

Answer 1

Of course, we can remain single and devote our lives to accumulating toys and monetary reserves.

However, we can also choose to attempt to find and enjoy a loving relationship, create a child who we can teach and learn from, and accept the notion of a myriad of bills which we must pay back in small installments.

Success and happiness are sometimes overlapping, but, in many cases, we must choose between the two.  We may choose happiness over the continual clamoring for the next step on the infinite corporate ladder.

Or, we may measure our personal value on our ability to compete and win, at some cost to our personal relationships.