The only reason "looks and degree" was brought up, is, for some (I believe) that's how they got their high salary which leads to paying for fun then and saving for fun at retirement age.
Well as a dentist, looks don't count. Being a good dentist is what makes you successful. When you get out of school and start your first job as a dentist you will be paid the same amount wether you are good looking or ugly. You will be kept on depending on your skills. I'm using dentist as an example because there are a number of them in my family. Also a few pharmacists and the same goes for them. The Doctor isn't great looking either. My neice is a 3 rd grade teacher and she is HOT! Doubt that got her the job though.
Well, I guess no matter what the Degree, looks or salary a person has, fun costs whether a person is young or old.
It depends what we class as 'fun'. Some people can lots of fun for free..there's a myriad of things that can be enjoyed for little or no money at all... Walking, rambling, swimming, lots of non professional sports ...reading free books from the library...picking free food in the woods and countryside, gardening, drawing, DIY, dancing, ....sooo many things..
Generally "free" things aren't fun for some and can even be boring to some. Except for swimming in our apt. complex pool, which, when the water is warm enough, is free and fun, I think other types of fun we like do cost. Our boat uses gas (cost), going to the target range costs a yearly membership/ammunition and a few other fun thing costs us as well. Some things that others would think that are fun and free, we'd think as boring......but, that is our opinion. Gardening is way to much physical work to us. Reading/library, not our "cup of tea" either. Taking a walk, perhaps.
Most of the things that I have enjoyed doing have not been things that cost much money. When the kids were growingup, we would spend the day at the river, fishing or swimming, and when we had horses, we would go on trail rides together. It did cost to keep the horses; but we lived in the country, and only had to have hay in the winter months. We did go to the fair every year, and the local one was free except for anything we bought, like hamburgers, or other food or goodies. Sometimes, even just making a campfire and roasting hot dogs and marshmallows for dinner was a wonderful evening. One of the things that I most enjoyed, and wish that I still had, was my pedal boat. I lived close to Lake Mayfield in Western Washington, and just down the road was the state park and boat launch. Once I had the pedal boat in the water, I could "troll" for kokanee salmon, also called bluebacks, and often came home with a nice fish or two for dinner. There was a log out into the water, and I would padlock the boat with a short chain, to a heavy branch of the log, and walk up the trail from the lake and across the street to my house. That way, I didn't have to use the boat launch each time I wanted to go fishing, and it was right across the street. It did cost to buy the pedal boat in the first place; but I got it at Costco, and the price was not that much back then. After that, there was not any cost. It didn't need a license or fuel, and it was perfect for one or two people. It looked similar to this picture, except that mine was blue.
I agree with Holly and Yvonne, not everything has to cost money or a lot of money. Movies, Fairs, Renaissance Fairs, casinos, a dinner out are all things that don't cost a fortune. Even If you don't dress up for a Renfest it's till fun looking around and seeing how others are dressed plus all the others things that are going on. If I had someone to go with, I'd go to more of them. A date took me on one once and it was a blast.
Also, while I enjoy an occasional boat ride after awhile that gets boring, don't you tire of it @Cody Fousnaugh? Sometimes all you see is water and you're just sitting there. If that was my hobby and cost too much, I would get rid of it and spend that money on a few things instead a boat you probably can't even use all year especially if you move to Colorado. You still have to pay rent at a Marina and can't even use it. Not for someone who's income is limited. Just my opinion and trying to help. Besides Halloween is there another time you can dress in your Star Wars outfits? Like a convention?
For the things you first mentioned, "costly" can depend on the restaurant a person is going to, Fair admission and food isn't cheap....especially if it's a large County or State Fair. It can be fairly easy to toss out $100 for a couple or more taking kids or grandkids. We are "fair weather boaters", which means: if it's too hot, too windy, tide isn't right or rain in the forecast....the boat stays in. We love boating! Not as much here in Florida as we did in Colorado, but still love it. It costs us more now, since our boat is in Dry Storage, BUT, making it much easier to get on/off the water. No more launching/retrieving off/onto the trailer. A large forklift puts it in the water, takes it out and puts back onto a rack in a covered building. It also stays much cleaner and safer. This is our first time using Dry Storage, but now know why so many boat owners, especially older folks/Seniors, spend the extra money for the convenience. When we can take it out, after repairs are done, we have a ball on it, cruising down a large river and listening to Classic Rock, Oldies and Motown cd's. Actually, we both agreed that paying for the repair and having a boat is what we really want. Both of us grew up around boating, my wife more than me though. Her family had a lake cottage and two boats. One was a ski boat. Hope this answers your question of why we keep the boat and pay the expenses for it. As far as the Halloween costumes, mine being pretty costly, will wear them at a couple pre-Halloween party's and on Halloween night. My costume was on sale for a very nice dicount, we both really, really liked the way it looked and had the money for it. That's it. When some people win a few $100 dollars ( or more) at a casino, they will buy something they really want, but not need. We did that when I won and we bought a nice digital camera. Others may get an inheritance from a family death and use the money for travel, etc. Some may bank the extra money they get, while others will plainly have fun with all or part of it. My brother as a full-size Cabin Cruiser on a trailer that needs some repair, but it just sits and he uses the money on other things. Since owning this boat, a number of years, he has never had it on the water!