Quite often, when a person receives a raise or promotion with an increased salary, overspending is the result. In those situations, financial experts recommend maintaining frugal spending patterns. This path will allow a person to avoid becoming a victim of “lifestyle inflation.” Many households earning hundreds of thousands of dollars have trouble avoiding debt and saving for the future. To prevent this situation, the following actions are recommended:
- Maintain your lifestyle and spending habits as you receive raises. Instead of a bigger house or new car, the increased income can be used to stabilize your financial situation and increase saving for future needs.
- Keep your average daily spending low.To avoid lifestyle creep, simply keep your typical day spending at a frugal level.
- Increase your automatic savings amounts. Consider saving an amount from each paycheck equal to the amount of your raise. This will allow you to put aside money for major financial goals and long-term financial security.
- Keep housing costs low. Instead of upgrading, maintain and improve your current home. Housing is a major cause of lifestyle creep when a more expensive home results in higher property taxes, maintenance costs, insurance, association fees and other expenses.
- Remember and review often your financial goals.Do not take your focus off long-term money goals. Short-term desires and impulsive spending can easily undermine your financial future. Create a way to remind yourself of those goals each day.
For additional information on lifestyle inflation, go to:
Teaching Suggestions
- Have students ask another person of what actions might be taken when a salary increase is received.
- Have students create a video contrasting wise and unwise actions when receiving a salary increase.
Discussion Questions
- What factors influence “lifestyle inflation” in our society?
- In addition to the suggestions in the article, what actions might be taken to avoid lifestyle creep?
Melissa Hart
Focus on Personal Finance, 7e 