The goal is not to live within your means. The goal is to live below your means. That way, if you lose your job and have to take a pay cut, it's no big deal. The rich stay rich by acting like they're poor and the poor stay poor by acting like they're rich. Like others have said, look at all the people with expensive cars, big houses and the latest electronic gadgets, but have no money in the bank. Every time I got a raise, I'd keep the same take-home and just put the raise into investments.
