re: What motivates people to live above their means?

quote:

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She claimed she had no food in the house, but bought a cheese burger, 2 fries and a large drink for lunch and 5 candy bars from a vendor hawking worlds finest chocolate.

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WOW! She's got to be carrying some weight!

To your OP, I see this as having to do with a lack of discipline. They were either not taught properly or grew up with an adult who wanted them to have the things they (the parent) didn't have.

If I can't pay for something outright then I don't buy it. My parents taught me this because they grew up this way (depression era). Hell, my folks still use the everyday china they got with green stamps when I was a kid. Some of the best plates I've ever seen.