Avoiding Lifestyle Creep

Most people focus on how much they earn.

I realised from a young age that how much you keep is what really matters.

Lifestyle creep is subtle.

You don’t wake up one day and decide to double your expenses - it happens in small, justifiable steps:

* A slightly nicer flat because “I deserve it.”

* More eating out because “what’s £50 here and there?”

* Upgrading things just because you can, not because they add real value.

And once those new comforts become normal, it’s hard to go back.

I’ve been thinking a lot about this because, in my 20s, I managed to save over £100K.

That’s not through some high-flying salary or entrepreneurial success, but just by avoiding lifestyle creep and being intentional with money.

At the start, I lived very frugally.

I even downloaded an app that earned me £10 a year from uploading receipts - not because it made a huge difference, but because it kept me in the habit of questioning every cost.

And the numbers add up.

The Hidden Power of Avoiding Unnecessary Costs

Every pound saved is actually more than a pound earned. Especially in the UK, where:

* Earnings over £50K are taxed at 40%.

* An effective ‘60% trap’ kicks in between £100K and £125k.

That means saving £500 is like earning £833 (or more) before tax.

And if you consistently make decisions like that, it adds up to thousands - without needing to work extra hours.

What If We Measured Savings Like Earnings?

I’ve started thinking of this in terms of time saved.

If I make a quick decision that avoids £200 in unnecessary costs, that’s like earning £250+ before tax in a few minutes.

If that same £250+ would have taken me, say, 5 hours of work to earn, then in a way, I just “earned” £40 an hour - without lifting a finger.

When we look at it this way, small financial decisions start to feel much more powerful.

Why This Matters More Than Ever

In a world where earning more is taxed heavily, keeping what you earn might be the most important financial skill.

And it’s not about extreme frugality - it’s about keeping your baseline low so that every extra pound goes towards freedom, not just covering a higher cost of living.

It’s something I think about a lot in my own work with coaching.

Career growth is important, but so is designing a life where money isn’t a source of stress - where your finances give you options instead of obligations.

— Thanks for reading, and have a great weekend.

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