Some Americans are crying poverty with a $1,500 iPhone in one hand and an $8 Starbucks latte in the other. They say groceries are unaffordable, but somehow the restaurants are packed, airports are crowded, and the neighbor just pulled into his driveway with a brand-new $90,000 SUV.

Apparently, we’re one bad economic report away from bankruptcy and one Instagram post away from booking another trip to Cabo.

Consumer confidence is in the basement. Consumer spending apparently didn’t get the memo.

In September, the Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index fell to 81.9. Yet it has been reported that consumer credit and debit card spending per household increased 6.2% from a year earlier.

As a financial advisor, I think the answer involves something more powerful than inflation or interest rates. Human psychology.

And there are five reasons our spending habits aren’t matching our economic anxiety.

1. Keeping up with the Joneses has gone digital

Thirty years ago, you compared your lifestyle with the neighbor who bought a new Cadillac.

Today, you’re comparing yourself with 5,000 people on Instagram. There are even college degrees on how to become a social media influencer. None of them get lots of likes by telling you to eat ramen noodles and skip third-row seats for the latest rock concert.

Someone’s vacationing in Italy. Someone remodeled their kitchen. Someone bought a new Porsche. Face it. Someone is always doing better than you are. Or, it seems that way.

2. We’ve become a nation of monthly payments

3. There are two different American consumers

4. If tomorrow looks bad, why not enjoy today?

5. We’ve confused looking wealthy with being wealthy

Ted Jenkin, NY Post