Question: Why is a higher standard of living equated with having more money and things? What other definition could you come up with for your standard of living? If you do have (or could envision yourself having) a different standard of living, how do or would you manage such a (radically?) different standard while living in the midst of our consumer, acquisitive culture? You might be interested in the book and television show describing Affluenza, an illness involving a addiction to materialism. Go to the PBS site for more information: LINK: Diagnosing Affluenza