it also depends on what one is striving for. Some people really don't care about materialistic things as much as about spirit and soul.. but then again, they never feel jealous that their neighbour has a better car..
I know one guy, who dedicated his entire life to restoration of old churches and monasteries. He would go to some remote abandoned village, would live there in some dilapidated shack, would work on restoration of some church, for basically free. The life has a meaning for him only when he can do such stuff.. he really doesn't care about brands of his clothes, or car (as a matter of fact, he rides a bicycle), or about a house, or any other materialistic things.. this way he clears his soul and expresses his faith, too.. and I believe THIS is the real faith, and not the one that is all in gold and money...
but again, each one is on his own..