Riley's life out of reach (registration required)
I don't think it's peer pressure. It's a cost/benefit decision everybody makes.That's one of the nastiest things about being in a consumerist society... everyone kind of eggs everyone else on.
The trouble is, I think a lot of people don't *make* that cost/benefit calculation at all.I don't think it's peer pressure. It's a cost/benefit decision everybody makes.
To keep using the cell phone example, I can certainly see that it would be a worthwhile expense for some people. What boggles me is that someone might be actively trying to get out of debt, and *not consider* that their $75/month cell phone plan is *not* a necessity.
Burns' comments about the increasing cost of the "life of Riley" reminded me of something I've observed about people's ideas of "normal expenses" in general. At another web forum that I participate in (Simple Living Discussion Forum) a common "newbie" post is something along the lines of "I'm in debt, help me cut my expenses and find a way to save more." Often, the poster has already "cut expenses to the bone" as far as they are concerned, and need fresh ideas. It's amazing how many purely discretionary expenses are assumed as "necessary".