My Journey Through Lifestyle Creep: Breaking Free to Live a Simpler, Happier Life

I recently came across an article on how to avoid lifestyle creep by Charlotte Cowles in the Cut —a topic I think is crucial for anyone focused on personal finance. It inspired me to share my own journey of navigating lifestyle creep, something I hadn’t fully realized was affecting my spending habits until it had taken over.

My Early Career: Learning to Stretch Every Dollar

In the early years of my career, I wasn’t exactly struggling, but I wasn’t flush with extra cash either. My budget was tight enough that I had to save up for things like travel, which meant keeping an eye on my spending and opting for cheaper basics. Frugality was part of my routine, and I found comfort in sticking to a manageable budget.

The Big Raise and the Allure of Lifestyle Upgrades

Then, one day, I got a significant raise. It was a game-changer. Suddenly, I didn’t need to stress over every purchase, every night out, or every restaurant bill. The freedom to just enjoy life without counting pennies felt exhilarating.

But as with any pay increase, higher expectations came with the raise. I was working longer hours, often feeling stressed and burnt out. I didn’t have the energy to rethink my life, so I chose what seemed easiest: treating myself. After a tough day at work, I felt I deserved little luxuries.

How Lifestyle Creep Showed Up in My Daily Life

It started small: I’d go grocery shopping and reach for the more premium brands—better yogurt, pricier wine, Italian extra virgin olive oil. But it wasn’t just food that changed. Inspired by the skincare routines of my favorite influencers on social media, I began trying out the products they recommended. Soon, I was indulging in fancy serums and creams, layering them without even knowing what half of them did.

But these were recurring costs that added up faster than I realized. Unlike a one-time purchase, these items became part of my monthly budget, and I quickly got used to the upgraded lifestyle. What started as a small indulgence became my new baseline.

Later on, I came across Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence by Anna Lembke, which helped me understand how our brains adapt to novelty. At first, these upgrades gave me a little thrill—each new, fancier product felt like a treat. But over time, my brain adjusted, and that initial excitement faded. What once felt indulgent simply became my new normal, a habit I barely thought about anymore.

The Reality Check: Recognizing the Cost of Small Upgrades

When I decided I wanted a simpler life, I finally took a hard look at my finances. I realized that these upgrades—things I used to “treat” myself—had become regular expenses.

Interestingly, downgrading some of my grocery items was easier than I thought. I quickly saw that certain premium products weren’t really bringing extra joy; some of the “fancier” versions just looked nicer but didn’t taste that much better. Though I couldn’t quite go back to the cheapest wine or olive oil, I found that simplifying my food purchases helped cut down my expenses without sacrificing much.

Skincare Overload: My Hardest Habit to Break

Skincare was a different story. I was using so many products that I genuinely didn’t know what each one was doing, if anything. Looking back, I can see how absurd it was, but at the time, the idea of cutting back gave me anxiety. These products had become part of how I presented myself to the world—a kind of safety net I didn’t want to lose.

So, I took a slow, methodical approach. I cut out one product at a time, giving myself a month to adjust before dropping another. In the end, I ended up with just one moisturizer and zero regrets.

My Journey to Simplify: Cutting Back Without Sacrificing Joy

I want to emphasize that simplifying isn’t about cutting out every indulgence. It’s about taking a closer look at your current spending, identifying what truly adds value, and recognizing the things you’ve simply grown accustomed to buying. By doing this, you can focus on the purchases that genuinely enhance your life while letting go of the ones that don’t bring meaningful joy.

Making these changes was easier because I had a clear goal in mind: I wanted a life where I could work less and live more. After taking a break from work, it became clear how important this was to me. I was motivated to simplify my spending, knowing that each cut brought me closer to a life with more freedom and fulfillment.

If you’re considering scaling back lifestyle creep in your own life, I recommend finding strong reasons or goals that will keep you motivated. When you know why you’re making changes, it becomes easier to resist the temptations of unnecessary upgrades.

Finding a New Balance: Choosing Intentional Spending

Lifestyle creep can be a subtle but powerful influence. My experience taught me that while it’s natural to want to celebrate a pay raise, it’s easy to let those small luxuries quietly build up. Cutting back didn’t mean losing joy—it meant finding it in a simpler, more fulfilling way. Today, I’m happy with a lifestyle that feels intentional and freeing, where spending goes toward what truly matters.

If you’re ready to break free from lifestyle creep, remember to start small, focus on the things that add real joy, and take pride in choosing a path that brings true satisfaction.