So it was a very childlike understanding of money to begin with.

100k is still a really solid income.  But no one is getting rich quick with it, but you can live well with it in most parts of the oucntry, other than a few metro areas.

My dad made $66k in 1980.  It was really good money then.  But similarly, he wasn't getting rich off of it. Also bought a really nice $200k home in Utah with a 12% mortgage interest rate, so had a $2k mortgage on that salary. Gas was only 89 cents, cars less, though car rates to borrow higher too.   Another factor younger kids don't get. Rates used to be WAY higher.  Inflation was awful in the late 70s and early 80s as well. Rates didin't drop below 10% until the early 90s and stayed above 8% for a long time.  Cheap money is a very recent thing.

Recessions happen. Rates go up and down. Salaries go up then stall before going up again.  All you can do it focus on spending as you go.  No matter your income, focus on spending less.