5 Ways to Combat Lifestyle Inflation
Anyone can fall victim to “lifestyle inflation.” It’s a phenomenon when our spending increases along with our wages. It usually happens so gradually that many of us don’t even realize it.
The main problem with lifestyle inflation is that it quickly derails one’s money management. When your salary goes up, and you’re unaware of your spending and budget, it becomes easy to slip into overspending unnoticeably. As a result, you experience financial stress, and it becomes hard for you to put money toward savings, pay off debts, or even make ends meet despite having a higher income.
Avoid these pitfalls of lifestyle inflation with smart financial planning. The following steps can help prevent your spending from spiraling out of control and avoid straining future finances after a raise or shifting to a higher-paying job.
Track Your Spending
Keep tabs on your spending patterns and monthly purchases so that you know where your money is going and where you’re overspending. There’s no need to give up everything to be back on track. What’s more important is to be more aware of your spending and financial priorities.
Take inventory of your accounts, including all your checking accounts and credit cards. After identifying your spending patterns, sort them into “needs” and “wants” to help yourself prioritize spending and cut costs to make room for more important financial goals.
More importantly, always make conscious decisions when purchasing. Avoid emotional shopping when feeling down. It’s very unlikely to solve any underlying issue and will only cause a lot of money.
Likewise, instead of bingeing on a large, celebratory purchase, put aside extra income or tax refunds for savings or debt repayment. It doesn’t mean not treating yourself. Again, it’s only to keep your finances on track and avoid lifestyle creep.
Build a Budget
Make—or revisit—your budget to track your expenses and income. Budgeting ensures you won’t spend above your means, helping you be more financially stable. In a bigger picture, it puts you on a stronger financial footing for both the short and long term.
An effective budget requires calculating your net income, tracking your spending, and setting realistic goals. It’s also a must to adjust your spending to stay on budget. Once set, regularly review your budget and spending to stay on track.
Build Emergency Funds
An emergency savings account can be used as a buffer against increased spending. Instead of using up all your extra income on lifestyle upgrades, funnel a portion of it towards this financial cushion. It will help you cover unexpected costs and avoid accumulating debt.
A common guideline in setting up an emergency fund is to put aside three to six months of living costs. This goal could be financially daunting for many, so it’s commonly advised to break it down into manageable chunks.
It doesn’t matter if you start small. The key is consistently increasing your monthly savings goals until you reach your desired emergency fund. Once you do, shift to tackling other financial priorities, such as debt repayment and retirement plans.
Save Up
In addition to emergency funds, stash away a portion of your monthly salary to put into another savings. This safety net can help you be more financially independent, debt-free, and ready for any unexpected costs.
While it may require discipline, adopting saving habits isn’t hard so long as you have firm determination and goals. To help you more with it, automate your savings and commit to increasing them. It also helps you avoid dipping into it for nonessential purchases.
Moreover, save up for big purchases instead of buying them on credit. A higher income makes us believe it’s safe to make minimum payments. However, they’re just minimum-due traps. They cause you to assume your bill is low, but you’re going to spend even more due to the accrued interest that can build up to an unmanageable sum over time. Instead, take your time to save up and avoid adding on debt to keep your daily finances afloat.
Pay Down Debt
When getting a raise, it’s financially smart to pay down debts and other outstanding balances first. It doesn’t only help you be debt-free but also improves your cash flow. As a result, you can create more opportunities to free up more funds to save and invest in the future.
There are a lot of ways to pay off debt faster. One is to be among personal borrowers. Personal loans come with many perks, such as no collateral requirement, fast disbursement of funds, lower interest rates, extended loan terms, and poor-credit borrower-friendly.
Another way, as mentioned, is to use your extra income or tax refund. But if you’ve already spent them, you can spend less or bring in another income stream.
Final Thoughts
Lifestyle inflation may catch you off guard, but there are several ways to fend it off. Be more proactive in monitoring your expenses and sticking to a realistic budget.
Don’t forget to prioritize paying off debt, savings, and emergency funds. Ultimately, resist spending temptation by focusing on your long-term financial goals.
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