Gotta disagree on one critical point above.
Thesis: people always want stuff.
Agreed.
Thesis: people always want what they aint got.
Agreed.
But... get more money, one less thing to worry about, get me? So, no, it's not totally pointless to pursue material goals. Any more than it's totally pointless to pursue any goals (that's a strong thesis worth defending. claiming money is somehow less important than "artistic recognition" or some crap isn't)
So, getting paid nothing wrong with. Also, check out "survival of the prettiest" by Nancy Etcoff for painful reasons why males in particular need to get paid.
Anyway if holidays and nice shirts is the goal, and you are a good talker. Do something sales related. It'll require fuck all in the way of commitment, and the rewards will come in quickly. It'll be a profoundly revolting way to spend your time in many ways, but in others it's very educational. And you will get cash. All the more recommended because anyone with some bullshit cliche student view of the world will regard you as a total sellout.
The more obscure the thing you are selling, the better the rewards and the less the competition as far as I can work out from what my mates make money from. Financial IT training courses and network solutions seem good places to start, whatever the fuck they are.
Added bonus is never having to talk about your work. Some of my best friends do this kind of crap and I feel no need to find out what it involves and they feel no need to tell me.