keeping up with the joneses, n.All

Keeping up with the Joneses is never a good idea. It's cheaper to drag them down to your level.

Keeping up with the Joneses is a terrible social phenomenon. Thousands upon thousands are brought into a state of real poverty every year by their great anxiety not to be thought poor.

Keeping up with the Joneses is never advisable. Rather, you should drag them down to your level.