February 20, 2023 7:00 am
But lifestyle creep can also mean having financial access to things that we previously might have had to deny ourselves, like finally booking that haircut you’ve been putting off, repairing the washing machine, and joining a gym rather than avoiding exercise or running around the local park. These things quickly become essentials rather than luxurious indulgences. And with theCharlotte, 30, a lingerie designer, used to count every penny and budget for daily spending.
Chelsea sees her approach not as one of extravagance but “focusing my money on the preventative instead of putting out fires”. “I genuinely think all of my spending has improved my life,” she says. “It was very exhausting to stretch my money before. Now I tend to buy more quality produce. I get takeout when I’m too tired to cook.”