In a few days, the attuned world will be witnessing Hollywood’s greatest awards show, and you could be considering payday loans. Why? Well, if you’re the type who obsesses over celebrity lifestyle and fashion, you could possibly be one to run out to the mall to get a knockoff of Angelina Jolie’s gown for your college reunion, or even be coerced by your daughter to get a cheaper version of Kate Winslet’s dress for her upcoming prom. Is this a good enough reason to get a payday loan? No. Think of payday loans as a warning device, or even an emergency measure, to evaluate your priorities.

Living the Celebrity Life

Too many people watching the glitz and glamour parading down the red carpet during this Sunday’s Academy Awards think the life of a celebrity is the stuff dreams are made of. It’s hard not to: perfect hair, flawless skin, gorgeous body, blinding jewelry, incredible gowns. You may think, “Hey, I can do that!” But really, we know looking good isn’t all they do. If that were the case, we might as well all be actors.

It is this image of money and prestige that many of us are attracted to; we try to experience this by buying products that celebrities use or endorse. Or at least we try to approximate what they have, like buying designer gown replicas. But do you absolutely have to? Or do you just want a piece of the lavish pie enjoyed by Nicole Kidman? The lure of celebrity and glamour can make you feel good about yourself for a moment, and dissipate once you’ve realized how much you’ve spent.

Keeping Up and Losing Out

There’s nothing wrong with wanting what celebrities have, but it is dangerous to actually keep up with their lifestyles—especially if you don’t have their talent fees. If you want to have what Sarah Jessica Parker is wearing that day, go ahead and get your own—copy or not—and be satisfied. But if you still want the outfit she wears the following week, it’s time to check your objectives.

Do you want it because it looks great, or you actually want to be Sarah Jessica? Absurd as it may sound, many continue to obsess over celebrities’ possessions just for this reason. Heard Cameron frequents this club? Go once and take in the experience. Want a car like Beyonce’s? Take a test drive and be happy. It doesn’t always mean buying into the celebrity life lock, stock, and barrel. You can just have a taste of it.

Go For the Best Picture

OK, so you’ve done it, you actually went ahead and bought a version of J. Lo’s gown and had your hair done by her favorite stylist. Now stop. Stop and smell the coffee—and check your funds. If you’re still fine, then relax, but don’t think about doing the same thing again next week, or even in the next year. You must be hiding under a rock if you still don’t know the kind of financial crisis the whole world is in.

If you realize that you’re running low on cash, credit, or both, make a promise that you’ll learn from all of this, and take out a payday loan. It comes in $100 to $1,500 amounts, so you won’t be too hard paying it back—but it will solve your problems right now. Payday loans are your best bet at this point. If you are able to control your celebrity fantasies, then you’ll soon know who the winner is.