Living Modestly in an Age of Showing Off
Yet financially, he was far from struggling.
He works as a nurse anesthetist — a demanding profession with significant responsibility, and in our area, a fairly strong income. His monthly earnings could reach around 10 million rupiah, while the local minimum wage is only about 2.2 million.
But what stood out was not how much he earned.
It was how he chose to live.
When his shoes started wearing out, he did not immediately throw them away and buy new ones. As long as they were still usable, he preferred taking them to a local cobbler for repair. He used things fully before replacing them. No obsession with luxury brands. No urge to constantly upgrade just to impress people.
And honestly, he could easily afford a more extravagant lifestyle if he wanted to.
He is also a genuine alumnus of Universitas Gadjah Mada — not one of those “fake diploma” stories that occasionally go viral online. ^^
Good education, respected profession, stable income — all the ingredients society often associates with a flashy lifestyle.
Yet he chose simplicity.
And perhaps that is exactly the point.
His modest lifestyle was not born from inability.
It came from self-control.
Today, many people automatically increase their lifestyle the moment their income rises. A higher salary quickly becomes a new car payment, a newer phone, a more expensive habit, or a stronger need to appear successful.
Sometimes people are not chasing comfort anymore.
They are chasing the appearance of success.
Ironically, many who look wealthy are financially fragile beneath the surface. They spend heavily just to maintain an image.
Meanwhile, truly mature people often move differently.
They are calmer. Less performative. Less desperate for validation.
They understand that dignity does not come from brands, and self-worth does not disappear because of simplicity.
There is something deeply peaceful about someone who can afford luxury but does not feel compelled to constantly display it.
And perhaps one of the smartest habits behind that mindset is saving.
Because saving money is not merely about being “frugal.”
It is about creating stability, freedom, and resilience for the future.
A person who saves consistently is quietly building options:
options during emergencies,
options when opportunities come,
and options to live without constant financial anxiety.
In a culture that encourages endless consumption, saving money can feel old-fashioned. But in reality, it is one of the most intelligent financial decisions a person can make.
Luxury can impress people for a moment.
But savings can protect your life for years.
The older I get, the more I realize: real wealth is not about looking rich — it is about having enough wisdom not to be controlled by the need to look rich.