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Yesterday, I read an article in which people who earn significantly more than I do explained how they were struggling to keep afloat financially.

I have been there myself in the past. But not on a salary of £150K. We were trying to find our feet on two public service admin salaries.

That was the era of driving old bangers, moving into a poorer neighbourhood, buying the cheapest house we could find, and freezing through the winters as we focused on repaying our loans.

But, ironically, it’s that frugality which seems to have granted us ease today, while people who by any other measure would be considered extremely wealthy struggle to survive.

Of course, it’s all relative. I’ve had to deal with a snooty builder from Beaconsfield assume I wouldn’t be able to afford his services based on the house and area I live in.

But it turns out that had he driven five miles down the road to see a client living in a £600K new-build, it would actually be those residents who couldn’t afford his services.

For fifteen years now, we have lived on a single household income. We have always been a one car household, sharing a single vehicle between us.

My income has increased over the admin and clerical salaries of old, but not significantly. Still, it’s sufficient for us, alhamdulilah.

I admit that I’m not immune to house envy on the ever-present video call with colleagues. Or to marvelling at the motors in the office car park.

But something has gone awry. Those who outwardly appear to be very wealthy claim to be on the brink. Could it be that we’ve been taught to value the wrong things?

What if it’s not about climbing the ladder to afford ever more stuff? What if we can find contentment and self-worth in simpler lives? What if our calling is more modest?

Wealth can indeed open doors, but only if it’s directed to the right things. Wealth invested in family, education or community is rarely wasted. But wealth invested in yet more debt is a squandered opportunity.

What is the use of a director salary if, after deducting financing for your executive car and eye-watering mortgage repayments, you have nothing left to live on? Was it really worth it?

There is a growing chasm in our time between the haves and have-nots. If you are living in poverty, your chance of escaping it is minimal right now. However, if you’re well-to-do and are still struggling, I wonder if it’s more about the choices you’ve made.

No one can help the unexpected — the unforseen job loss, illness in the family, caring responsibilities, the house roof torn off in a storm, flood or fire. But we can choose how we live in the present, dampening our expectations, knowing that the future is uncertain.

To live as those framed words in our living room instruct:

I thought about all sorts of wealth but did not find a better wealth than contentment in a little.

Never could we claim that what we have is little. In contrast to many in this world, we live like kings, even if to others we look like paupers.

Still, it is a good rule to hold to as a guide. Choose the contentment of living within your means, over pursuing all the glitter and gold our peers would have us believe will bring us happiness.

If you must pursue great wealth, let it be contentment with what you have.