Lived in a truck for 15 years, no electricity or running water just candles and filling up butts in churchyards and garages. My daughter was born in a converted Bedford horsebox on a hop farm in Kent. I'd go back to it tomorrow.
The more possesions the more you have to work to sustain them. Most of it is greed pure and simple, tbh no one 'needs' a 4000 quid bike or 25 grand car, yes they're nice to have but there is actually very little justification for having one other than 'I can afford it (or not as is so often the case) so I will have it.
I've been around europe, India and bits of Africa and it seems the people who have least are the happiest, until they're told that they need to have Ipods and other consumer goodies (usually by the consumer goods companies), then they start to feel they're missing out and that's when the trouble starts.
It makes me a bit sick when I see 'what shall I buy' next threads because the poster generally doesn't need that Titanium stem or colour coded bolt kit or new phone bit just wnats it to make his bike 1oz lighter, be a bit flash or able to pose around with their new phone model because the last one that came out 3 weeks ago is obsolete..
What you want and what you need and what's the difference.
Disclaimer: yes I know this is post is supremely hypocritical because I have 4 bikes, we all fall into the trap at times