Every once in a while, I think about doing this.... I haven't actually don't it before, just that I think it would be fun.
Most, if not all people, judge others by visuals. It doesn't matter what's real or not. Take for example, food, many restaurants serve similar things, but yet those with better presentation charges a premium for the visuals.
There are many people who buy a lot of stuff to make themselves feel better or to make others jealous of them, or to make people think that they are doing better than they really are.
I truth, you never really know anyone's financial position unless you know them very well. What you see is just what they want you to see and may or may not be the true depiction of where they are in life.
The people around me all pretty much know me as a frugal or stingy guy, depends ......