Lifestyle inflation is when your spending increases as your income grows. You get a raise, and suddenly you're upgrading your car, moving to a pricier apartment, or dining out more often. It feels natural—you're earning more, so why not enjoy it? The challenge is that lifestyle inflation can prevent you from building wealth, because your expenses rise right alongside your income.

The solution isn't to deprive yourself, but to be intentional: let your lifestyle improve, but make sure your savings and investments grow at least as much as your spending does. That way, you're building financial security while still enjoying the fruits of your hard work.