I've been following this thread and trying to figure out why it hasn't been an issue for me in 37 years of frugality. I've always been the bossy, opinionated one of the family; that probably helps. Being an accountant doesn't hurt either; my family look to me for financial advice, which only reinforces the bossy/opinionated thing. Then there's DH's FU attitude about pretty much everything.
Regarding friends: most of our friends have also been clients or at least advice-seeking at various times, so they tend to worship at the altar.
We do have one client-based friend who likes to make insulting "funny" comments that slide into off-base ethnic slurs. For example: he calls us 'Jews in a junkyard', which I find offensive (we're not Jewish, which is beside the point) but don't press because he doesn't get it...and also client.
Now that I think about it, my father used to make all sorts of longing comments about how I was supposed to be a lawyer or a Senator, but that had less to do with money than not 'fulfilling my potential'. Funny thing, though: about 20 years ago, he started bragging about the things DH and I had done and telling me that I was the only one of his children who was happy in life.
Bottom line: make yourself happy, communicate your happiness to your family and friends, and don't worry about the rest. No rancor, no need to prove everyone else wrong. Just live well.