Got a Raise? Don't Fall Victim to Lifestyle Creep
Lifestyle Inflation
With so many cheap consumer goods at our fingertips, it’s easy to get carried away after landing a new job or scoring a raise. You start eating sushi every weekend, upgrade your wardrobe, maybe even buy a sports car, and soon enough, you’re suffering from a full-blown case of “lifestyle creep.” Luxuries become necessities, and your bank account is just as empty as it was before. To avoid this common financial pitfall, frugal Redditors recently came up with over a dozen ideas to keep your spending in check. We compiled a list of the best of ‘em so that you can enjoy your raise without completely obliterating your budget.
'Out of Sight, Out of Mind'
If you’re flush with cash from a raise, most Redditors suggested an “out of sight, out of mind” approach to saving. In practice, that means setting up your accounts to automatically send the extra dough (or a portion of it) to a separate savings or retirement account. Referencing James Clear’s book “Atomic Habits,” one Redditor points out that this method relies on building an automated system rather than self-discipline.
Only Buy One of Each Thing
You might love a cat-shaped novelty mug, but do you really need five of them? Probably not, Redditors say. So no matter how much you love a product, don’t get carried away.
Differentiate Between Needs and Wants
One Redditor asks a simple question to reel in their spending habits: How badly do I need it? And by differentiating between wants and needs, they’re able to “almost gamify” their savings goals. “Years ago, I trained myself to not live beyond my means and to never spend more than I make during any given time period,” they add.
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Determine Your Values
Taking a more philosophical tack, one commenter suggests looking inward and asking yourself what you really value. “The biggest problem is when people spend and spend on things that don't add value to their life or bring them joy,” they write. Knowing what you care about will let you save and spend your money mindfully.
Treat Yourself
No matter how motivated you are to save every last cent of your new raise, take a moment to reward yourself and celebrate. While that might not mean buying a new car, you shouldn't feel guilty about buying one or two smaller purchases.
This article was originally published on Cheapism
