The clear dividing line is - can the person truly afford it? If a person spends an absurd amount of money that he has (i.e. that he actually earned and saved)

The clear dividing line is - can the person truly afford it? If a person spends an absurd amount of money that he has (i.e. that he actually earned and saved) on something that seems crazy to most people, that's OK - he's making a personal choice with personal funds (i.e. hi-fi enthusiast man) On the other hand, a person with a minimum wage job making the decision to buy a $2500 purse out of some speculation that it will help her make the jump to the next level? Frankly, that just seems foolish. Why not take $200 for a purse, $200 for a new suit? It’s not the shopping for image and upward mobility that bothers people - that decision actually makes some sense. The problem arises when that shopping crosses the line from reasonable spending that a person can afford and/or justify, into a place that’s completely insane and truly unaffordable.