It doesn't take long for this to happen and I don't think you can prevent it. I grew up in the late 60s, early 70s, and I was dirt poor. Both parents alcoholics and we had literally nothing. The first bike I ever had I built from bike pieces thrown in the garbage. My first car cost $100 and I had to rebuild the carburetor. Even now I fix and piece together everything. My garden tiller is from the 80s and I've replaced every part on it or fashioned my own and welded it on. My lawn mower is ancient, my cars are over 15 years old. My clothes are t shirts and jeans except for one nice suit I got at Goodwill. Etc., etc. I'm not a miser or tightwad, it's just the frame of mind I grew up with. You fix stuff and make do.

My kids, however, grew up solidly middle class. Sports, swimming pool, nice clothes, new bikes. We had 11 kids so I definitely couldn't afford to spoil them. They didn't get anything and everything they wanted. But they laugh at me when I suggest keeping or fixing up something old. They would rather buy new. Old stuff is just junk to them. They're not morons, but I think they're way softer than I am when it comes to material possessions.