Yeah, i think its primarily your peer group. Its not a subject most people discuss freely, but you can generally tell when someone is putting out more than they make. The people i know buy purses because they are pretty, or new iphones because "its only $40/mo and so on. I am the odd one of the people i know because i dont do those things or i wait until i have the money saved up to do them. I dont make much for sure, but i would bet decent money that i could not find a single person i know who can consistantly save 15+% of their monthly income like i do. When i do take “loans” they are low interest (~7%) because i am borrowing against assets i have built up and not with cards.