When I finished High School, I was literally only half way done with formal education.
4 years undergrad degree
4 years medical school (slavery that I had to pay for the privilege of undergoing)
1 year internship (more slavery with a few scraps to live on, making far less than minimum wage, based on an hourly rate)
4 years of residency (indentured servitude)
1 year of fellowship (more indentured servitude)
Finally at age 32, I was able to get a real job. From there, we did not spend above, or anywhere close to our means. We did not take extravagant vacations or buy 2 or 3 houses. We live comfortably, but saved and invested (and are still saving and investing) for our retirement and for our children's education.
Also,
Stay out of credit card debt.
Don't buy what you can't afford to buy or make mortgage/car payments on. The interest payments will sink hopes of financial success.
Don't gamble more than you can afford to lose (or any at all).
Most pinball machines will not lose most of their value if you need to sell them. Yes, you may lose some money but, most of the time, it is not a huge loss.