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You look out the window of your home each night after dinner, staring across the street at your neighbors. You long for the cars they drive, their weekly manicured lawns, and even the vacations they seem to take several times a year.
吃完晚饭，你朝窗外望去，目光穿过小路看到了邻居。你羡慕他家的车子，每周修剪的草地，甚至每年几次的假期。
But there are several reasons our can neighbors afford so many of the things we would love to have:
但邻居拥有我们追求的生活不是没有原因的：
1. Perception is Everything
1. 眼睛会骗人
Your perception may be skewed. You see fancy cars in the driveway, and the trim lawns between your toes. You watch work crews going in and out of the awesome remodeling projects happening inside. Yet, none of that means your neighbors are wealthier than you are. Just because you see them as more affluent, doesn’t mean they are.
眼睛里看到的东西未必是真实的。你看到车道上的靓车，脚下整齐的草地，看到他家进进出出的装修工人，忙着为屋子重新装修。但这些都不能表示邻居比你有钱。这只是你的错觉，不是实际情况。
You are only able to see above the surface of their spending, meaning you have no idea what’s happening down below.
你只看到他们表面上花钱的情况，不知道人家在你看不到的地方过什么样的日子。
2. Allocation is Essential
2. 钱花在哪里是关键
While you choose to consistently save money for your kids’ education, and retirement later in life, they are spending what they believe are excess funds on their cars and homes. They might be making the shallow choice to spend their money on what people can see, while you are spending your money on the life you want to live, both today and tomorrow. You choose to pay for piece of mind.
当你决定要为孩子的教育和未来的养老存钱时，你的邻居却把额外的钱花在车子和房子上。也许他们只是肤浅地把钱花在大家都看得见的地方，可是你是用钱创造自己现在和未来的理想生活。你是在为自己的理想买单。
It’s how your neighbors allocate their income that makes them seem richer than they are.
看起来邻居好像很有钱，其实是他们花钱的地方和你不同。
3. Perks Matter
3. 福利很重要
While Your neighbors’ salaries might be slightly more than yours, it isn’t enough to justify the massive leap in spending. However, fringe benefits can greatly widen the gap. Perks such as cars, phones, laptops, and more can give the recipient an amazing leg up when it comes to freeing money for other pleasures.
虽然你的邻居可能工资高一点，但这不足以解释你们消费的巨大差异。不过，福利会加大你们之间的消费差距，比如汽车、电话、笔记本电脑等，有了这些福利，你的邻居就有闲钱享乐了。
4. Luxuries of the Mature
4. 家庭的成长可以增加消费的自由度
As families mature, houses get paid off and savings grow. Even if your children do go to the same school, their children are older, and they have a few years on you as well. Those could be years spent paying on their house and putting money in the bank.
随着家庭的成长，家里的支出会减少，存款会增多。即使你和邻居的孩子上的是同一所学校，只要他们家庭比你的家庭组建年数长，就会比你稍显富有。因为他们已经还了房贷，并且有银行存款了。
Imagine how much more freedom you would have without also having to manage your monthly mortgage.
想想如果没有月供，自己花钱能有多少自由度。
5. Their Lives Might be Plastic
5. 月光族有什么好羡慕的
Your neighbors might be disciples, worshiping the power of the plastic. While you are smart enough to understand the headaches of undisciplined credit, your neighbors might be living carelessly, buying short-term luxury today in exchange for a meager tomorrow.
或许你的邻居是一个月光族，崇尚及时享乐。当你理解到烂刷信用卡的恶果时，他们说不定还在浑浑噩噩地生活，今天买了奢侈品，明天就要喝西北风了。
6. They Know Where to Find Deals
6. 你懂得精打细算
I consider myself a connoisseur when it comes to finding great deals on groceries and kids clothing. Perhaps your neighbors also know something about finding deals on the things they need, freeing up more money for things they want.
我自认为是一个淘杂货和儿童衣服的行家。也许你的邻居也知道采购缺少的用品，只是钱要花得多一些。
7. They Pay for Their Immediate Wants First
7. 什么急就买什么
Your neighbors could also have more money than you do because they prioritize differently, and pay from their savings for projects that they want done.
你的邻居看起来比你有钱也可能是这个原因，他们分清事情的轻重缓急，只要是在计划之内的消费，就会拿出存款来。
While my neighbors may or may not make have more money than me, I don’t let it influence the way that I live. I spend money in the way that’s most important for my family, both for a better, more comfortable today, and for a brighter tomorrow.
邻居也许比我有钱，也许比我穷。但我不会让财富的差距影响自己的生活。我花钱的原则就是，对家庭有利，为了更好更舒适的今天，为了更光明的未来。
