This thread asks: Would you avoid spending money in order to not feel like a show off to friends, family, neighbors who are currently struggling? And if so, is there a difference between buying a new gadget that can be hidden away and renovating your kitchen, which is glaringly obvious?

I understand both sides of the argument, though I do not think we temper our spending based on what others might think. We save for what we need and then go buy it.

But our friends have always had diverse financial situations so it’s something we’re already used to navigating.