Growing up, my dad made decent money, and my mom did some babysitting to earn a little as well (mostly to afford the Hallmark ornaments she liked to give and collect each year). However, there were five kids, spread out over 18 years. They could afford to put my sister through sports/gymnastics, but not me, so I learned early that if I wanted something, I'd have to earn it myself. This has lead to me working a paying job since I was 11 (which kind of sucks).
Even now, when I can afford all of my needs, and many, but not all, of my wants, I start to experience "frugal burnout" if I don't allow myself a splurge every now and then. This may be tickets to see a play/musical, some nice fabric for a quilt or sewing project (still bought on sale or with a coupon), or a couple dollars on the really good chocolate (Swiss, Belgian, etc).
I deal with it by figuring out my priorities and working hard toward them while scrimping and "making do" on the things less important. I have followed this through all my financial situations and have found it works well for me.
I'm using the ssa website to help me figure out what my income was through certain periods. My income increased once I was able to get into my apprenticeship full time. At this point, my income varies based on the amount of overtime I get, since raises have been pretty small when they haven't been frozen.
First out of high school and my parent's home, pregnant and newly married (we can't fix past mistakes, we can only move forward, sometimes with long lasting consequences...):
I made less than $6k that first year, but because of all the jobs I worked when I was younger, and a well-instilled savings habit, I had $5k in the bank. Then-husband was making $14/hour, but doing landscaping or construction, and didn't work in the winter. My job allowed me to make a meal for myself, which helped a lot. Sometimes the manager would let me take home a couple pieces of chicken leftover from the buffet (usually we wrapped it and it was donated "to the homeless"). I was passed up for the full-time position and the job given to a girl who was not legally old enough to do half the job (had to be 18 to use a slicer). This sucked, because I really wanted the health insurance (and more money!) I was back at work the day after my son came home from NICU (two weeks), and full time within a week, though not getting full time benefits yet. Priorities: keep baby alive (preemie), pay bills, pay rent ($400/month for about a 400 sqft house), survive.
2nd, 3rd, 4th year: I made $14k, $16k, $17k. Then husband made between $14 and $26/hour, but would still get laid off for long stretches. Finally full-time with shitty health insurance. We bought a house ($78k, PITI $550). Priorities: get out of rental (I hated renting), afford daycare, start taking classes at the community college. Ended up dropping work health insurance for a few more cents an hour, self-bought health insurance so it would actually cover something.
While going to college (associates), through a divorce, with a three-year-old and a mortgage (and no child support from the ex yet): Made $18k. Life was hell. At school or at work almost all the time, with a little one at home. No more meals at work, so had to cook more at home, with little time. Washing machine broke beyond repair, so I did laundry in my bathtub. Fridge broke so I kept my food in an ice chest (I did have a working freezer, so that helped a ton). Priorities: max retirement (new job had a retirement plan! Max was 12% of income), change health insurance (to work plan, same company I used with self-pay), get through school without giving up, take care of kid, survive.
Finishing college (in June) and into apprenticeship: Made $31k! I felt rich! I could finally replace the broken fridge and washing machine. I could pay my bills without depleting my savings. Priorities: keep maxing retirement, save enough to put DS through private school for a few years (public school was not a good one, private school was a few thousand a year).
Through apprenticeship: Went from $31k to $61k over three years. Sold old house, bought different house. No more taking classes, so that freed up a ton of time. Long commute, but good job. Priorities: keep sending DS to private school for a few years, pay a little extra on mortgage, keep maxing retirement, save for travel.
Now: base income is around $89k, which is pretty good money for my area. I increase my income by working overtime when it is available (usually earn over $100k). I had received a promotion, but two years ago I took a paycut to change careers (still field work, just different). Live in same house I bought as an apprentice, but have also bought property. Now work 10 minutes (door-to-door) from work. DS is grown and going to the community college while living at home to save money. I finally feel like I have free time. The fog of a horrible work environment has started to lift (I did not "leave" that job, I "escaped" it.) Priorities: save to help DS with college, save to build house on property, not currently maxing retirement (benefit of saving hard during early years) so I can save more cash for previous two goals (will go back to max when I can no longer file head of household since DS will no longer be a dependent), still save for travel but have backed off some for now (other savings goals taking priority), enjoy hobbies (quilting, photography, etc), enjoy more theater (live and movie).
I'm looking forward to the next stage, when the house on the property is built, and DS is on his own. My job has a lot of downtime where I can work on hobbies (or whatever I want, within reason), and a crazy schedule that I actually really like (mostly nights and weekends). My predicted priorities for new stage: Max retirement, accept overtime only if it is a "good shift" that I'd want to work, make lots of quilts, drink coffee on the porch instead of the couch, take cool photos, travel someplace new at least once a year (because of my crazy schedule, I can take two weeks off five times a year, using only 16 hours of vacation each time). Keep on track to retire on an "early out" if it ever becomes available to me, and, if not, hope things stay good enough that I don't mind waiting until my minimum retirement age of 57.