I think the key to getting spending under control is to figure out what your priorities are, not just copying what the Jones’s priorities are. We choose to buy used vehicles with cash and drive them into the ground, we haven’t had cable in 20yrs, and in general unless something wears out or breaks we don’t replace it. Shopping for us isn’t a recreational activity – there’s always a list and a purpose when we go to a store. We don’t feel deprived in anyway, because having new vehicles and the latest “stuff” isn’t important to us. Instead we take great vacations and save like mad so we can retire early. Those are our priorities so doing without the other stuff is really pretty painless. I couldn’t buy a $200 pair of shoes without seeing it as a missed night in a fabulous hotel in Venice. It’s all about knowing what you value and not spending mindlessly on whatever your friends or colleagues do.
I don’t understand spending a fortune on the latest electronics, but if it’s important to someone and they’ve planned their budget to accomodate it, then great. Those same people thought we were nuts taking the kids to Europe for a month.

I know the NHS has had a lot of bad press in the USA, but Christmas Eve my 91 year old mother-in-law was taken into hospital from her doctor’s, by ambulance. She was tested, x-rayed, scanned, heart stabilised and operated on within three days – now well on the way to recovery. She will go to a special hospital for two weeks to recover before being sent home. Cost – zilch!

However, I agree with keeping yourself healthy – life is then much nicer. My mother-in-law is a case in point. She has always eaten well and kept herself busy in mind and body.

Nowadays, online shopping is quite happening, it could be another factor that make people splurging too.

I am not as worried about things I can control (like wanting to keep up with the neighbors), but things I can’t control like a chronic illness or massive recession.