Trust me, there are a whole lot of entrepreneurs not like the ex-Google "I'm self-funded for several years" types.
I'm definitely not rich, and there are some months when I'm not sure I'll make it; but somehow I do, and then there are other months where things work out better than I expected.
But when I walk out of my house and go where I want, when I want, while most of the rest of the people are told when and where to be, I feel free. And when I do work for a client from a hotel room in the Caribbean, after my day of scuba diving, I feel pretty great.
If I continued with my old way of "every job must pay more than the last", I would still be in the oil business, in an office every day. Instead, I now see how much I was wasting on a new car, daily driving commute (time and gas), eating out because I'm too exhausted after a day in the office to cook when I get home, etc... turns out I don't need nearly as much money to live on as I did when I was working for $$.
This is what I find is most annoying - the traditional "more money more problems." I actually had the most savings I've ever had in my life while I was a student on $15k a year Government benefits.
Every payrise I've gotten has just gone into more mundane crap - more booze, more expensive food, more spontaneous frivolous holidays...
That's entirely a discipline and planning problem.
I doubled my income, downgraded my lifestyle and now I am sitting on a 49.5% savings rate on my take home pay. No car, I budget to eat out twice per month and even the food I eat I prepare myself.
My girlfriend also doubled her income, but has since doubled her expenses and not saved an extra dime. What has she spent it on? Clothing, jewelry, expensive organic food, new pet, etc.
Consider even getting a room mate if you want to save more.
You've only got one life, unless you have some strong beliefs, and if you calculate the weeks remaining assuming a lifespan of around 80... You can understand the reasoning of your girlfriend. Taking a step back, people are different. I'd rather slave away in a 9 to 5 than not be able to do things I enjoy, like taking advantage of good restaurants I can walk to.
I'm definitely not rich, and there are some months when I'm not sure I'll make it; but somehow I do, and then there are other months where things work out better than I expected.
But when I walk out of my house and go where I want, when I want, while most of the rest of the people are told when and where to be, I feel free. And when I do work for a client from a hotel room in the Caribbean, after my day of scuba diving, I feel pretty great.
If I continued with my old way of "every job must pay more than the last", I would still be in the oil business, in an office every day. Instead, I now see how much I was wasting on a new car, daily driving commute (time and gas), eating out because I'm too exhausted after a day in the office to cook when I get home, etc... turns out I don't need nearly as much money to live on as I did when I was working for $$.