[Kisil]

It seems obvious to you and many others here that everyone slides down the slippery spending slope. I have the same problem understanding this position that I have understanding "compulsive shoppers" who buy luxury goods on credit cards. Wouldn't one just... not do it? It seems that the type of person who overspends when rich will also overspend when poor, i.e. that it's more a function of willpower than income level. I don't overspend now; why would having more money make me any more likely to overspend?

I'm starting to think there's some major psychological division here; why is it so hard for you to imagine having willpower, or for me to imagine not having it? I'd like to say it's just that there aren't that many more things I want, but perhaps that feeling is a higher function of willpower, and I've just conditioned myself not to want things I can't afford. If this kind of cognitive shielding is involved, it might partially explain why the two sides have so much trouble relating.