A Sea Ray Sundancer motorboat in Cruz Bay, an example of a luxury good associated with increased wealth

Lifestyle creep, also known as lifestyle inflation, is a phenomenon that occurs when as more resources are spent towards standard of living, former luxuries become perceived necessities.[1][2][3]

Description

An individual's discretionary income could increase as a result of increased income or decreased cost, such as paying off a mortgage.[1] As discretionary income increases, individuals are able to spend money on things that were previously unaffordable.[1] Lifestyle creep occurs when spending increases at the same rate as income.[3] It can be reflected in purchases, such as expensive vehicles or a second home.[1][2] Spending money on things with ongoing maintenance costs, such as club memberships, also are demonstrated in lifestyle creep.[4]

Lifestyle creep tends to be insidious, so it can be difficult to realize it is occurring.[2][5][6] This is why some experts have called it a “silent inflation”.[5] Although it is difficult to perceive, it can be contagious as people compare their own lifestyle with others.[5] Signs of lifestyle creep could include difficulty saving money and increasing debt.[2] Making a budget and setting a limit on expenses could potentially limit lifestyle creep.[2]

This phenomenon is common among young adults in their mid-twenties to early thirties.[5] In this age group, rapid career advancements lead to more discretionary income which can lead to excess spending.[5] Reasons also include spender's need to project a certain image and social status onto others, thus buying expensive gadgets and items just to fit in.[7]

It can also become a particular problem near the age of retirement, where individuals tend to have the highest earning potential and decreased costs, such as not having the financial burden of raising children.[1] When individuals retire and try to maintain a formerly lavish lifestyle, they can suffer financially.[1] Furthermore, it is challenging to downgrade lifestyle.[5][6]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Ososami, B. (2009). Wealth Out of Ashes. p. 137. ISBN 978-1-4670-0694-1. Retrieved 2019-11-14.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Maldonado, Camilo (2018-08-23). "The Slippery Slope Of Lifestyle Creep And How To Avoid It". Forbes. Retrieved 2019-11-13.
  3. 1 2 Vitug, J. (2016). You Only Live Once: The Roadmap to Financial Wellness and a Purposeful Life. Wiley. p. 26. ISBN 978-1-119-26737-9. Retrieved 2019-11-14.
  4. ↑ Sullivan, P. (2015). The Thin Green Line: The Money Secrets of the Super Wealthy. Simon & Schuster. p. 96. ISBN 978-1-4516-8726-2. Retrieved 2019-11-14.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Ghosh, P.; Chowdhury, P.R. Managerial Economics: 3 edition. McGraw-Hill Education. p. 318. ISBN 978-93-87067-63-9. Retrieved 2019-11-14.
  6. 1 2 Lazaroff, P. (2019). Making Money Simple: The Complete Guide to Getting Your Financial House in Order and Keeping It That Way Forever. Wiley. p. 50. ISBN 978-1-119-53785-4. Retrieved 2019-11-14.
  7. ↑ Staples, Ana. "What is lifestyle inflation — and is it really that bad?". CNBC. Retrieved 2023-10-25.
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