Do you know someone that always has to out do you? You buy a nice home, they buy a bigger house.  You buy a new Toyota, they buy a Lexus.  You get the idea.  Do you know anyone that tries to keep up with your family when it comes to purchases?  I once had a neighbor who always tried to keep up with "The Joneses".  If someone in the neighborhood got something for their yard, a week later, they'd have it too.  Can you ever be happy trying to "keep up with the Joneses"?