Financial bloggers often speak of the downsides associated with keeping up with "The Joneses"; the folks who seem to be living that elusive "good life".

The thoughts go a little something like this:

• You spend more than you intend to because they make you want things you hadn't even considered important.
• You're never happy because you keep thinking about what they have that you don't.
• You feel the need to get bigger and better versions of the newer things you own as soon as you see they've upgraded their lifestyle. 
• You feel that, if you're a good provider like they appear to be, you need to be giving your family everything others are providing (education, leisure, experiences, material goods).
• You feel that if you go to a good school you have a chance at a better life like theirs.
• You never save enough because no one has their bank balance printed on their forehead but folks will sure notice that you're driving a beater or that you're not wearing the big brands.

If only that were the extent of the consequences associated with aspirational spending.