Why can't people live within their means?

[Anonymous]

Instead of down grading so they aren't broke all the time, they decide to stay in the house they can't afford, and keep the cars they can't afford and so on?  Why keep up with the debt?  Not being bitchy, but honestly curious. 

[ripemango]

why can't people mind their own business?

[Anonymous]

well in my case i have a house that is worth $30,000 less than what we owe on it.  it has depreciated $70,000  in the past 4 years due to the market.  when my husband lost his job and found a new one we had to move.  he makes quite a bit less than he did at his last job.  now we are struggling to pay for a house we dont even live in since our renters dont pay half the time.

i would LOVE to sell and "downsize" our debt.  unfortunately that wont happen unless we foreclose.  fun times hey?

[Anonymous]

I can FINALLY afford my lifestyle. This is after my DH & I opened two businesses plus I work a full time job outside our businesses.

[sunshinebebe26]

Bc everyone in this country feels like if someone else has something they should too! My dh and i both work our asses off to be able to afford our lifestyle and still save!!

[JakesMom712]

Maybe they got locked into certain things. Like a more expensive apartment, cell phones, cable. Someone lost their job and they can't afford the cancellation fees. I really don't have an answer. Just pulling things out my ass.

[Anonymous]

I have never understood that either except for people want to out do others & that's how they think they can do it.

[Anonymous]

Because TV tells them to. Advertising is powerful magic on the weak minded.

[Anonymous]

Don't know, we can afford how we live. But it drives me nuts hen people assume we are living beyond our means. We have almost zero debt. Today we went to an event where our seats alone were $500/a piece. We were surrounded by people 15+ years older than us and several commented on how young kids don't know how to manage their money and put everything on credit. We paid cash for the entire trip.

[Hannahluvsdogs]

Because we live in a consumerist culture where people are constantly bombarded by messages that they need things. Apple pretty much has this down to a science. They can make a few changes to their phone or tablet and release it as a new version and people line up to throw away a few hundred bucks on it.

[Mama_Dolly]

we live within our means.... I dont know how we do it.  we dont make much... but yet we still have cable internet, smartphone,  eat out etc and only debt is my student loan which is being paid off....