I have seen many stories in here and around me about people trying to be financially disciplined and making good money decisions but they feel like they are not getting ahead or missing out when compared to their friends, coworkers and 'others' with similar incomes/circumstances and they are dumbfounded. How come others are living so comfortably and affording all those things while I am in the same situation but can't. Of course, in most cases, the general point is that 'you don't know the specifics of other people's lives.' Just looking for concrete examples that you saw in your own lives or that you have discovered: the indebted neighbour, paycheck-to-paycheck cousin, large-inheritence friend… (I call this the Public Displays of Affluence syndrome) Hoping that such stories can help people making good decisions easily relativize and not fall prey to herd behaviors.