I am the top 1% (not financially)
I make around 75k a year US. That's around £50k a year. I think that really puts me in the top 20% of earners but I digress. I don't come from money, but I come from sense.
I watch every penny I spend and make sure I save at least 20% of my salary each month, I buy specials where I can, and make sure I live on the cheapest packages of everything I need, etc phone line, internet, etc. I don't watch TV so no need to pay a TV license or Sky (like cable in the US). I never borrowed money to study as I worked about 3 years first saving before going to university where I left 4 years later with no debt. I took me 26 days from the moment I left uni to find a job. This was in a time where there were no jobs going. In my interview I offered to take a 30% cut in what they were offering for a year until I proved my worth. I was offered a job on the spot. I adjusted my spending accordingly spending 30% less across the board. I easily could've lived on that but I didn't save as much as I would've liked so I took a night job painting railway stations which surprisingly enough paid a small fortune. After a year my money was adjusted and I got an increase so I could sleep again at night as I didn't have to work.
I still kept on saving at at age 29 (I'm 31 now) I managed to buy a dilapidated house with land, cash. Well, bank transfer really. I done the house up myself.
I drive a 4 year old BMW I bought for cash from someone who overstretched himself financially and had to start selling stuff.
So I'm 31, no debt, own a house, nice enough car, money in the bank. All done on an average UK salary for a degree-level job.
All it took was sense, 10 years of very hard work and now I'm very much set for a good life. Not hard is it?