anchor: A self-appraisal (and remember, the entire purpose of a reference group is to serve as a yardstick for self-appraisal) would entail evaluating the richness of relationships and the satisfactions of accomplishments, rather than the cataloging of possessions.
positive: The point of a reference group is to serve as a yardstick for self-appraisal.
negative: Reference groups serve no other purpose than to try to gain more data on spendings.