Lifestyle Inflation: Darnright American, or Downright Idiotic?

I never did get how he could dive through what must amount to solid metal.

"You've traded stability and security for stuff and status."

Pretty no-nonsense advice from a blog article I found here. 

It's the modern American way to live beyond your means, to carry as much debt as you think you can (the estimate is never right), and to have the newest and best items you can "afford" (put on charge).  How else will people know you're a success?  I'm not sure, but I think matching furniture will help.

I feel that this way of life is phasing out as more people realize that going into debt to get flashy stuff is not the business.

Maybe people thought there was something secure in having stuff?  I don't know.  But most people who are up to their eyeballs in debt can tell you that they don't exactly feel secure.

This bit of similar wisdom can be found in one of my favorite SNL skits.  Just don't buy stuff.  Don't buy stuff you have to go into debt for.  Don't buy stuff you can't afford!

I ran into this when I planned my wedding.  I did not want to go into debt for one day's party.  Cash was king, and we were saving for a house down payment (still saving...).  To us, a house was more important than being princess for a day.  Now, if you have zillions of dollars and won't go into debt if you have a fancy wedding, have at it.  It's not really my thing, but if you have the money, who am I to stop you?  It's a free country.

Going into debt for it, though, or for a couch, or for anything...  No bueno.

Our wedding turned out pretty neat, actually.  We paid for the little ceremony at the county registrar in San Jose, which got us ten minutes in the chapel that had COLUMNS (yes!).  The officiant wore a purple robe with shorts and tennies on underneath.  It was awesome.  We then went to a nice lunch (along with our parents and siblings, who also attended the ceremony) at our favorite restaurant, The Vine.  A few weeks later, we had a house party with cupcakes and food from our other favorite local restaurants, and invited around 40 people.  People get really weird about weddings, and we did have to explain many times that we were keeping it small.  I am not so sure any Bridezilla has to explain why she needs to have seat covers that match the aisle runner.

It's just the way our culture works.  Big white weddings are expected of us.  They're TRADITION.  Even though big weddings, and going into debt for them, is only a recent development in the scheme of things.  In fact, look at vintage wedding pictures to see that the wedding dress wasn't even really a "thing" like it is now.  But, a whole industry has built up around weddings, just like with anything, and they will gladly facilitate you parting with your money, even if you have to put it on credit.

Down the line, will you be grateful that you put that $20,000 (or more) toward the one party that one weekend, even as you continue to rent and be further from your dream of homeownership?  The same goes for anything else you put on credit.

Obviously sometimes in life, we need to put stuff on credit, or finance things.  Just make sure it's not something that's going to decrease dramatically in value.  Don't be that guy, foreclosing on his house, and bragging that he spent $10,000 on that antique couch.  Having a bunch of expensive stuff doesn't guarantee you won't go bankrupt...  Sometimes it just expedites the process.

Besides, don't we all want to figure out if you can really dive into a bunch of coins?  I'm thinking not, but it would be fun to have the opportunity to find out.