Common expression for having a rich man's taste but a poor man's budget?

Question

What is the common expression for having a rich person's taste and poor person's budget?

This question might have similar answers as this question: http://english.stackexchange.com/questions/279808/english-equivalent-to-the-bengali-idiom-bamon-hoye-chand-dhorar-shokh-which-m/279825#279825 — Kristina Lopez, Feb 29 '16 at 18:53
May also be related to: http://english.stackexchange.com/questions/303080/is-there-a-similar-english-phrase-for-this-tamil-proverb-lavish-outside-home — jxh, Feb 29 '16 at 20:22

score 42 · Answer 1 · answered Feb 29 '16 at 15:25

42

This is often described as having "X" tastes on a "Y" budget, where people fill in their own humorous contrasts between something lavish and something frugal.

Two of the most common are "champagne tastes on a beer budget," and "caviar tastes on a tuna fish budget" (this last one was parodied on the show The Real Husbands of Hollywood, where star Kevin Hart was described as having "caviar tastes" but believing that caviar was spelled with a "K").

answered Feb 29 '16 at 15:25

Chris Sunami

19,990

I wouldn't be surprised if those were two of the most common due to Robin Leach's ending line on Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous: "champagne wishes and caviar dreams" – DCShannon Feb 29 '16 at 22:35

score 18 · Answer 2 · edited Feb 29 '16 at 16:05

18

Live beyond one's means : to spend more money than one can afford to spend (MW)

edited Feb 29 '16 at 16:05

choster

43,403

answered Feb 29 '16 at 15:17

spyky_42

442

1

Welcome to EL&U. Please remember that definitions should include sources, and those sources should be cited. I have provided an alternative dictionary definition for you, but encourage you to take the site [tour] and review the [help] for additional guidance. – choster Feb 29 '16 at 16:06
2

I believe this satisfies the concept of spending more than what one "should", but it does not convey the implication that the spending was due to high taste. One could be spending their whole paycheck on Magic: the Gathering cards and certainly be living beyond their means, but their habit would likely not be considered to be one of rich taste. – Brian R Feb 29 '16 at 18:18
This answer is right if you also give in to the tastes although you can't afford to. The question did not specify that you actually spend according to the tastes. – mathreadler Mar 01 '16 at 08:06
1

No. You can live beyond your means while overindulging a cheap sense of taste, or you can have expensive taste and live within your means by not indulging it. – Karen Mar 01 '16 at 15:01
1

@BrianR, that seems like a rich taste to me. Maybe it just depends on your tastes ;) – Paul Draper Mar 01 '16 at 20:27

score 6 · Answer 3 · edited Mar 22 '16 at 10:57

6

What about "gold collar worker", in the same vein as white- and blue- collar?

Gold-collar worker (GCW) is a neologism which has been used to describe either young, low-wage workers who invest in conspicuous luxury...

Wikipedia entry

edited Mar 22 '16 at 10:57

Matt E. Эллен

29,137

answered Feb 29 '16 at 22:01

Brian R

283

score 3 · Answer 4 · edited Mar 01 '16 at 05:48

3

You could use the metaphor: "Ferrari lifestyle on a Honda paycheck"

edited Mar 01 '16 at 05:48

Downgoat

304

answered Feb 29 '16 at 19:02

Bastien Koert

89

3

i think this could be generalized to X lifestyle on Y paycheck, much like the X taste on Y budget above – Cat'r'pillar Feb 29 '16 at 21:47
Please explain why one could use this phrase. How does it fit the question? How is having a car indicative of a poor or rich budget? – Matt E. Эллен Mar 22 '16 at 10:54

Common expression for having a rich man's taste but a poor man's budget?

4 Answers4