If you're raising a family a larger part of your income goes towards necessities. It's the cost of necessities that have increased the most over the last few years. Cars, computers, etc have become more affordable. But if most of your expenses are medical, milk, gas, etc it's gotten painful. That's why raising a family makes you more conscious of your real earnings and what they need to be. It has nothing to do with ego, and everything to do with the needs of your family, which are getting harder and harder to meet.
I both understand and respect that. I agree- but look around at what's going on around us. I hate to say it, but the American worker is under attack on ALL fronts right now. Unfortunately, it's not getting any easier for anybody, regardless of industry.