Yea, it's a balance. I've been fortunate to always have a good job, and have met a wife, who loves me very much, and we have a beautiful, smart healthy daughter who brings great joy to our life.
But, it's no picnic. There are responsibilities, and you have to take care of everything. You have to learn things like what a mortgage is, and what kinds of insurance you need to buy, and arguing with companies when they make a mistake on your bill. Everyone universally hates those things, I think.
And just when you're getting ahead, all the tires on your car need to be replaced, so you get to spend money on things you never, ever thought you'd spend money on. Formula for your baby, tires for your car, toilet plungers, and if you own your own home, decorating supplies, ad nauseum.
It seems overwhelming. I often take stock of where I am, and I feel like I've accomplished a lot in my relatively short adult life, but I've made mistakes along the way. You learn what works, and what doesn't.
And like henry said, I could easily afford hundreds of rule books, or computer equipment or video games nowadays, but I'd be neglecting other important things by doing so. So, I think responsibility means evaluating your needs and choosing wisely.