Or maybe costs suddenly increased and people had no time to adjust to their new means. “Living beyond your means” is such a dumb phrase in this context. It puts the onus on individuals instead of things like inflation, price gouging, tariffs and costs of living. I guess everyone should be living in one bedroom apartments and eating rice and beans everyday so they live within their means(this is hyperbole). People don’t deserve any luxury just the bare minimum to live and keep working for their overlords.