live beyond means

live beyond (one's) means

To spend or owe more money than one is earning or is able to repay. They've been living beyond their means for some time now, but they're too proud to move out of that giant house or give up their expensive cars. Being so poor during college taught me not to live beyond my means once I got a steady job. If you keep living beyond your means, you'll deplete your bank account before you know it.See also: beyond, live, mean

live beyond one's means

to spend more money than one can afford. The Browns are deeply in debt because they are living beyond their means. I keep a budget so that I don't live beyond my means.See also: beyond, live, mean