This does not discuss that living beyond the means could be a rational option. If money comes from a bank credit, then in the worst case one declares a personal bankruptcy. As banks are supposed to be nice and do not sent guys with baseball bats to talk about money, the only real consequence is a loss of current possessions and inability to get a new credit for some number of years.<p>So one could get a credit, party for few years and then live according to the means while having a memory of joyful times. Compared with that an alternative of always living to the means may sound rather dull.