A part of the problem is that many consider hedonism / frugality to be the one true way of life and socialization. They think that if they don't act like all t

A part of the problem is that many consider hedonism / frugality to be the one true way of life and socialization. They think that if they don't act like all the others, they'll be socially rejected. But it ain't so. As long as you have high self-esteem nobody can make you feel "inferior". Another part of the problem, and it has been brought up recently, is that most people cannot really save enough to make a difference. They don't have enough to really diversify their wealth so they figure out: "oh crap, then I can as well spend it, it's not going to be worth anything in a few years anyway because of inflation". Note that "saving your wealth" and "saving your money" are two entirely different things. The government is busy confiscating your savings thanks to inflation. I'd suggest "acting dead, trading up and living the middle class": http://www.ribbonfarm.com/2011/12/08/acting-dead-trading-up-and-leaving-the-middle-class/ http://www.ribbonfarm.com/2011/12/08/acting-dead-trading-up-... I don't buy all the crap that most people do buy. I do still fork $$$$ for stuff like an Aeron chair but overall I do save money compared to most because I don't need many things, neither does my SO (which used to be a high-maintenance girl but then "saw the light"). But then I don't want the government to confiscate it. So what do I do? I buy an old sportcar that I put in a garage (and sometimes take it out for a spin), I buy physical gold, I diversify paper money over several currencies, etc. I do that because I don't have enough to buy cash another property and don't want to be rped in the by taking credits. But going out paying overpriced drinks with fake friends and going to fancy restaurant just to say that I go to fancy restaurants? No way. I didn't regress at the pre-anal stage where I need to fetishize food. And I much prefer to "impress" people with good looking old exotic cars than with ephemeral restaurants bills ; )