"D Peter Maus" wrote in message
...

How much it cost in relation to the prevailing wage, was of academic
interest only.

The wage indicates how much money you get. Then a person does a mental cost
/ benefit analysis to determine what to do with the money if they have any
to spare at the end of the month.

I go through the same sort of process for anything I buy. Even little items
are lumped together mentally so I know how I am doing at any time in the
expenses vs. income department.

That never changes; some people just are more able to balance things, the
others get overextended on credit cards.