i dont consider a bracelet or watch to even be considerations for people who cant afford them. there is no comparison between managing without a watch/bracelet and having turkey sandwiches.
I personally had a buffet because of cost and it was fine. people were able to eat even more than they would have. we also didn’t have a schmorg. in our community, thank Gd, it is still acceptable to forgo many of the so called basics that you all speak of in the tri-state area. which brings me to another point, if your complaints about peer pressure and keeping up with the jonses being the cause of all this is accurate, then am I not correct in turning down shidduchim from this area and telling my children it would not be healthy for them to raise a family in the tri-state area? I am assuming you will be appalled at the mere thought of it, even tho it goes right in line with helping prevent all these “societal pressures” you frown upon. if you raise your kids in a torah true atmosphere where people don’t believe you need huge diamonds, fancy bracelets, lavish weddings etc then all of your complaints here could be a non-issue.