While I've never thought of it that way myself either, I have to admit I resonate with what Wombat says. Perhaps it's a normality principal thing. I was just thinking yesterday how growing up with little meant that being careful with money, mending instead of replacing, buying second hand and hunting for bargains in the supermarket had become so second nature, that even when we could afford more, we still did followed the same habits. It means we had more savings behind us when things did crash down again, although each time it happens they get smaller and smaller.
This is the challenge I have faced. No matter how much I save, the cost of living gets more expensive, so it will be whittled away eventually. There is a limit on how much can be saved, (almost) no limit on how much can be generated. The thing is, the corporations take the "limitless" approach for profits, extracting increasing amounts from everyone who try to save more to make ends meet.
There must be a better economic process than extract to nothing, revolt and repeat.
I'm sure there is, but inflation is how the people at the top extract their riches from the populous, so I doubt it'll change in that regard. I feel like we're reaching or are already in the "extract to nothing" stage.