How do so many people appear to be rich?

Ok so my dad is in the national top 1 percent of incomes, but he is the only parent working. Still, we should be in the top few percentile. Anyways, we don't even seem that wealthy, we drive semi average cars, our house is about a 7/10 for what it's worth, most of our clothes are inexepensive, we eat at somewhat affordable restaurants, etc.

Yet on the street here, it seems like 10% of the cars are like 80k + brand new. I'm one of the few kids at my school that doesn't have my own car, and I don't have an iphone either. Lots of these kids have $300 jeans, etc. Just the way my parents talk too, they always make it sound like people are so rich, like when they hear of people buying expensive things they always say "maybe they are really rich"?

So what I wonder is, why do people seem so rich compared to statistics? I think its a combination of my parents living well below their means, people financing everything, plus this city is actually quite rich.

I'm confused because you mention that people might be putting on airs, but then you close with "plus, this city is actually quite rich." So, which is it? Are they really rich, or just appearing to be rich?

I know that a lot of Americans over-leverage themselves into appearing more wealthy than they really are. They use a lot of credit card and other debt. Is that what you mean?

People people don't live within their means. This is a serious problem in America.

It seems like your family is happy to live within their means, and not buy expensive stuff because you feel no need to (You may, but your dad does).

It is called "Conspicuous Consumerism" (book by Vance Packard?) - aka keeping up with the Joneses (or Kardashians - lol )