Finally, it’s time to implement what I have been talking about on my blog over the last year or so - it’s time to address lifestyle inflation!
The first salary after getting a job is always a tempting excuse to indulge in a shopping spree. Plus, a new unfurnished apartment cries desperately for a several-hundred-dollars expenditure on furniture/bed/accessories.
However, with great restraint, I have finally managed to convince myself back into a sleeping bag. 
I have had some good (and prolonged) experience with sleeping bags, so I don’t mind it.
Also, most other things were acquired at much lower costs than what I had imagined earlier (new leather shoes - $50, trousers - about $25 each , shirts - about $20 each, etc.) - so most of the inflationary items have been under control. Plus, I threw away an incredible number of clothes/accessories during my moving/clean-up spree - so I ended up with a lot less “stuff” in the new apartment.
May be it’s lifestyle deflation or whatever… but it certainly feels good to carry less baggage and live light.
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I always find sleeping bags uncomfortable. I prefer just a couple of blankets
I love a good, soft, warm sleeping bag. Intresting post, I think there is a lot of truth to the ‘live light’ concept. It is so much easier to keep track of your daily comings and goings and just “stuff” in your life if you don’t have as much crap.
I’ve been looking to get rid of things and simply a lot since I’m looking at moving. I definitely don’t want to move something that I won’t use for a year and end up getting rid of anyway.
Congrats! Having just moved into a new house myself, I know how hard that impulse is to resist. I must admit, the fact that I blog about frugality really has helped me to stick to my guns-although we’ve made some big purchases (uh-like new windows!) Feeling that I have to disclose things to my readers has really shored up my restraint.
Moving always help you purge - I’ve been throwing out bags of garbage lately in an effort to purge yet there always seems to be more of it piling up. I think getting rid of all of it will be a concerted effort. Congrats on lightening the load so to speak.
Was there anything specific you did or did you just force yourself to get rid of things you weren’t using?
I suggest a cheap bedframe from IKEA but as comfortable a mattress as you can reasonably afford… don’t sell yourself short on sleep!
Not just lifestyle inflation but inflation in general….everything has become so expensive these days!
Matt: The only thing specific was throwing away (donating in fact) a lot of clothes - but again, I wasn’t using most of them. I wouldn’t call myself a hoarder… but I was surprised at the number of things (read that as “amount of stuff”) I pulled out of all corners of the house - some of them hardly used at all. Probably some of these things were past impulse purchases.
I slept for a year on a mattress without a frame just to save money.
A year later, spent $500 at IKEA for a whole bedroom set. Not the best quality, but it was a really good deal and the bedroom didn’t have just a mattress on the floor anymore.
I have to admit that I’ve been out of college for quite a few years now, and I haven’t purchased a lot of furniture. I bought a mirror ($100) and a dresser from IKEA ($250). I’ve received a few lamps as gifts. However, the majority of my furniture is cast-off from friends or family…
I haven’t slept on a bed frame in, now that I think about it, 8 years? The last one I slept on consistently was provided by my college while on campus. Otherwise it’s been a couple of years on an air mattress, and the rest of the time on mattresses directly on the floor. Seriously, why do you need more? Must we all be elevated from the ground in order to sleep?
I’ve been going through my house the last few weeks, and I’ve been amazed at the random stuff I’ve found too. I try to get rid of as much as possible… but I don’t know if I could go without my bed.
I think the problem arises once other people say “what you should have” Most of us buy things simply because they do not want others to think we are doing bad. So we pile up on stuff, not savings
Seriously, why do you need more? Must we all be elevated from the ground in order to sleep?
I think the problem arises once other people say “what you should have” Most of us buy things simply because they do not want others to think we are doing bad. So we pile up on stuff, not savings
The only advantage I can imagine a bed frame offering is: extra storage. Once you realize you don’t need anything that can be stored under a bed, that line of reasoning withers away quickly.
I can think of another reason why you might wish to part ways with as many belongings as possible: you do not wish others to know how fantastically well you are doing (financially). If they knew how well you were so doing, they really would expect you to have a lot more stuff. Keep others’ expectations low. Purge until it feels extreme; then wait a few months or years and purge again!
Forgot to mention my preferred sleeping surface: a well-kept hardwood floor, with a 4-inch all-cotton futon upon it. thewild1’s advice about a couple of blankets is good, too. I haven’t used a sleeping blanket that is able to comfortably contain me. I always need room to kick about.
I know what you mean about lifestyle inflation. My problem is that I haven’t really expanded too much. What has actually happened is that I grew up upper middle class with support from my parents and now I am trying to live the same lifestyle I had been accustom to, but now I provide for myself fully. I also got married a year after entering the workforce. As my income would increase I gradually accepted more an more responsibility which ate up all of the money I earned from working a “real job.” I’ve started to reign in some of my habits to try and save more. The adjustment has been slow and painful but at least I seem to have stopped adding debt and so that means my lifestyle and income have reached equilibrium.
I say sent some minimal goals for yourself to keep inflation under control.
1. always set a certain amount into savings
2. always spend less than what you make
Pay well for your needs, the better the quality, the longer (more value) it will last.
Be selective on your wants. Even if you CAN alway get what you want, it doesn’t mean you SHOULD.
Golbguru, I just wanted to wish you a happy birthday! I know it’s a bit late. I think I saw your birthday sort of flash on my facebook page this week.
BTW, you packed light… did the mrs. do the same thing to?
I remember Lem had to haul about 10 garbage bags…. and that’s just the shoes.
Perfect example that the more you make the more you spend.
We have inflated our lifestyle too but I enjoyed sleeping on the floor on a mattress more than in the 4 poster bed we have now.
Good for you. While Monestary Living isn’t for everyone :)The importandt thing is to maintain a lifestyle and bank the rest!
All kidding aside good job!
Getting married is a great excuse for lifestyle inflation
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My husband and have a box spring and mattress on the floor. We put a mattress topper on it. The whole thing cost very little, and we won’t have to replace the box spring — we can get another mattress at a mis-match sale when needed.
Therefore, we were disappointed when my husband’s cousin got sucked in to spending more than $2,000 on a fancy-smancy mattress. The pitch? “You spend 1/3 of your life sleeping.” That may be true, but we’re actually get more sleep on our $300 set up than he is on his $2,000 bed. And we have more cash to spare besides…
Thanks for the informative post, Your information comes to me very handy. Since i am planning for a long time stay about two months outside my home.
I know what you mean about lifestyle inflation. I dont know how you do it, but i for one cant stop spending. Whenever i have money i have to spend it on the latest thing. I think the problem comes from since i was really young, as i have been spoilt all my life its really hard to try and change my standered of living. Im off to dubai in 2 weeks which means more spending. I CANT WAIT!!!!!
Hi there,
I think the value here is know first the investment return of what you will be buying before you jump the gun and buy it.
There’s a lot to be said for living light. Especially right after getting a new job. You never know if it is going to work out right from the beginning. Good post.
I have more money than most people can ever imagine yet I still ‘budget’ to live off ONLY what my passive assets can produce (I ignore all of my other business income).
Why?
Because, Lifestyle Deflation (taking away something you already have) is much, much harder than Delaying Gratification (not giving yourself something new … yet) in the first place!
I was also the person who shopped a lot after I got my first full time paycheck. Now, ten months later and a lot of student loans to still pay, I am learning the value of savings and having sustainable products. So what if I don’t have the newest shoes or the trendiest IT bag? I’m putting my money into something more worthwhile than a fashion whim or a material urge. Living below one’s needs and saving for a better future is worth a lot more than a fancy shiny new car.
I nod my head when you mention lifestyle inflation. The more you earn the more you spend and there is always a ‘new or improved’ version of something you already have (that still works perfectly fine). As for sleeping bags, mine has a double zip at the bottom to free my feet
It amazes me (now, after becoming financially savvy in the last year) how most of America spends money. No one can ever seem to get ahead! I have friend that make really good money just out of college and they have absolutely no clue when it comes to budgeting/saving/investing.
Frugality is the way to go all right.
It’s time for a lifestyle change. Save the money, lower the baggage.
Most of the inflationary items have been under control. Plus, I threw away an incredible number of clothes/accessories during my moving/clean-up spree on bed accessories - so I ended up with a lot less “stuff” in the new apartment.
A particularly fun way for my family to thumb our noses at high priced apparel is to take a trip to Steve & Barry’s to buy tennis shoes and various apparel. Steve & Barry’s (http://www.steveandbarrys.com/) has clothing, cool looking Starbury’s shoes (and others — max $14.98 / pair), and other stuff, in upscale looking stores. And, I think nothing over $16.00, although it might be $20.00. Anyway, I love buying cool shoes at $14.98 / pair for myself and my kids. FYI, I have no financial interest in any of the stores/brands mentioned. I just like buying from them !
Truth is, you need a well deserved rest. Especially in a comfortable bed. It’s a great investment for your well being
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Good post. You’ve got a good attitude. Remember - travel light because its a long road.
I’m thinking of moving soon. I just can;t get rid of my super comfortable sleeping bag ever!
Great post! I’m a living light type–if I have two spoons I give one away. My man is a save for a rainy day type–if he has two spoons he finds two more and saves them in the shed for when his one spoon wears out. Both approaches have merit I think. We balance each other out more than annoy each other, so it works.
Sleeping bags are not that bad! YOu are doing the right thing , keep up the good work it will pay off in the long run.
Sleeping bag… Nice!
Better sleep, less money. It’s win-win!
But seriously, good post. A good reminder to practice lifestyle reduction - both for the money saved, and for the simplicity gained. We need much less than we think we need!