8 Ways Lifestyle Creep Keeps You From Building Your Wealth
8 Ways Lifestyle Creep Keeps You From Building Your Wealth
Joel Lim Sun, September 28, 2025 GOBankingRates
You’re making decent money. You don’t feel like you overspend. And you don’t have a ton of bills. So, you wonder, why aren’t you building more wealth? You should be doing much better right now than you feel like you are, you figure. So what’s happening? You’re not alone. Only 22.1% of Americans have more than $100,000 invested and it is at that financial point that your wealth really starts to grow, according to 24/7 Wall St.
Read on to explore the everyday actions you’re taking or not taking, that are holding you back from joining that 22%.
You Increase Your Cost of Living Every Time You Get a Raise
It’s tempting — so tempting — to move into a bigger apartment, get a better car or start shopping at Whole Foods instead of Food 4 Less as you start to make more money. It makes sense. You’re tired of living frugally when you’re not, in fact, at that financial level anymore.
But this mistake is probably the biggest reason you’re not accumulating more wealth, even though you’re technically “doing better.”
How To Change: You don’t have to put every extra dollar you make into investments, but you do have to put some of it in there. As you first start getting raises and promotions, aim to contribute at least 50% of your raise to your investment portfolio, which is what Poor Swiss suggested. As your lifestyle improves, contribute a great percentage of each raise to investments until you reach your desired goal.
You Make Luxury Your Normal
If you look at most genuinely wealthy people in the United States, they don’t live wild and flashy lives. They tend to live simple lives with simple items for their necessities. They prioritize financial security over “things.” It’s a good approach to take to your lifestyle.
You don’t need the most expensive shoes, jacket or watch. And chances are, you don’t need a massive house with more bedrooms than you have family members. But you do need to add to your investment portfolio, where your investments can earn you 12% in returns, according to Ramsey Solutions. Your Chanel bag won’t get you there.
How To Change: Make a deal with yourself that you’ll treat yourself on occasion and the rest of your money will go toward necessities and growing your wealth. It’s a mindset shift you need to make to prioritize financial security.
You Try To Live Like an Influencer
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