Why do people claim that the cost of your lifestyle will increase with your income?? *I* still live humbly!?

Question

Here is an example of a so-called money "myth" from an article(http://www.mdmproofing.com/iym/weblog/2007/05/12-things-said-by-people-who-suck-with.html):

"'I could pay all my bills off if they'd just give me that [raise/promotion/bonus] at work.'

Yeah, you and everyone else. Except that when more money comes in, it just means that more money goes out, and you're right back at #7 (above) again. That's why they call it the Rat Race."

I disagree. When I was poor, I didn't even make enough money to cover necessities. I was making $5.15/hr and my job gave me tiny work hrs, claiming they didnt have more hrs available, despite my requesting more hrs. As a result, I succombed to paying for necessities like food with credit card, + any medical bills went unpaid(I was uninsured at the time)...so each month I got deeper in debt and yes it WAS because I didn't make enough money. I used to go around saying "If I only had a job that paid me at least a fraction of what I'm worth..." and

Answer 1

Yeah.. I'm not exactly sure what your point is. Maybe to let everyone know you happen to have better self restraint then most.

When it comes to Human behavior there are very few absolutes, there are however lots of general rules that apply to most people. In this case one general rule is by nature most peoples appetites for things increase with their means to buy them.

It also appears ( I could be wrong) you have the advantage of being single which makes it much easier to be financially disciplined. When you add a spouse and couple of kids things get very complicated and make it even harder to not let your material appetite surpass your means of earning.

But I do congratulate you on your discipline, I would assume your time spent living a poor life probably prepared you to content with less material things. Which is a good lesson for all of that hard times help prepare us to do better things when things get better.

One way you do not seem to be live humbly is by not bragging about your self restraint on the Internet.

Answer 2

Not all people react the same way.  There are many of us who keep to a modest lifestyle even though we could afford a much grander style.  

Generalities never fit everyone, but there is truth to the proposition that you quoted.  I've watched people live beyond their means when their income was $12,000 a year.  When they made $40,000 the continued to spend more than that.  You are an exception.  Congratulations on your self-restraint.

Answer 3

Congratulations? Way to go, you!

It appears you just wrote that to feel better about yourself.

Try blogging, not a question and answer session.

Answer 4

I agree. People live way beyond their means nowadays. I saw an article in a Money magazine entitled "Scraping by on $150,000 a year".

Okay, so it was a couple with 4 kids. Still...that's more than half of my family combined makes. Lost my father at 10 years old...my mother raised me herself, trying to work low-paying jobs. She did an excellent job with very little. People always bash when you ask a question like this, though. Because they themselves are likely living way above their means, so they try to make you feel guilty for making them thinking about it. They try to brush it off and ignore, thinking it will "get better on it's own."  Even if I had a lot of money....I've definitely learned how valuable self-control is when it comes to buying the necessities. Good to see someone else who has learned this, as well. :-)

My first job was $5.15 an hour, too. That was one nasty job, too...an usher at a movie theater, cleaning up the unbelievable nasty stuff that people purposefully leave on the floor.

Answer 5

Good for you.  I guess you dont have any ambitions...

EDIT:  What is the purpose of working?  Graduating from college?  Pursuing a better life and career?  Why do you work?

What I mean by having ambitions is by wanting to have a better quality of life.  It is the result of your hard work.  If you dont care about improving, having goals and living better than good for you for having that lifestyle.