The Silent Killer of Your Savings: Lifestyle Creep (And How to Beat It Before It Eats Your Salary)
You got the raise. You’re still broke. Here’s the psychological trap most Indians fall into—and 5 science-backed ways to escape it. What Is Lifestyle Creep? Lifestyle creep (or lifestyle inflation) is what happens when your income increases—and so does your spending. You used to get by on ₹40,000/month. Now you're earning ₹80,000 or even ₹1.2 lakh. But strangely, you're still living paycheck to paycheck. No real savings, no investments, just... fancier shoes, more Swiggy orders, and a slightly nicer phone. Sound familiar? This is lifestyle creep in action. And it’s more dangerous than it seems. Why It’s So Dangerous Lifestyle creep is subtle. It feels like you're improving your life (and in some ways, you are). But it’s a trap because: Your expenses rise with your income, leaving your savings unchanged (or worse, declining). You develop expensive habits that are hard to reverse. You feel financially stuck, even when you’re earning more than ever. W...