Honestly speaking 10k a month salary in kl should be able to provide a couple some sort of higher than average lifestyle. Unfortunately with family, children, sad to say that is not enough. Nevertheless, there are plenty earning less than 5k surviving with whole family with home loans, car installment, insurance, daily needs and children expenses.

As for TS your case, I understand on your situation because human are always looking forward and not backwards. I'm actually the same even though my parents give me money to buy civic, branded goods, watches, full overseas education etc, and yet insufficient to me because of comparison to friends who drive luxurious european sports cars etc. Secondary school wear 3k watch, after graduation upgraded to 30k watch and came out to work aim for more expensive tourbillon movement watches, thats because we need improvements. I'm lucky enough as I need not buy cars, need not buy properties as all were provided but still I will say is not enough. and of course I worked in KL city before and have to admit that the cost of living in KL is high such which restricts most people from living in a posh lifestyle. But I'm sure he has to climb the ladder for more but compared to a lot others you are doing good as he draws 10k because while I was working in KL I only earn 3k a month and I forsee that I being a wage earner in KL, is hard to achieve 10k a month by age of 30. Good thing I left KL and work in overseas and I'm saving more than 10k a month and no longer spend as much as those days as I need to save and invest for future also.