To think higher earners can become less careful with money?

[ThisLimeMember]

I feel like the more people earn, the less careful they become with their money. I wonder if it's because there's more room for spending, so small decisions don't feel as significant.

AIBU?

There’s also lifestyle creep - you can just spend a little bit more for slightly nicer things, and the difference between your old salary and the new one gets eaten up.

Yes definitely. I’m now a high earner, after a childhood/young adulthood of counting pennies and being on the breadline, and I actively enjoy being less careful. I don’t worry about money, if I overspend one category I just adjust my budget accordingly.

I do still have financial goals and save heavily for the future (more than some of my similar-earning colleagues!) but the worry and panic of making sure every penny is accounted for, and making the most ‘wise’ decision over every purchase is gone.

Definitely. I used to earn more and I wouldn’t need to think about it, I’d just buy what I wanted. Now I wish I’d been more careful.

Well yes of course. If youre on very tight margins you'll obviously consider discretionary spending more carefully than if you have a decent amount of headroom. Not really sure you'll get many who would say differently. I suppose there'll be a difference on where different people draw the line between necessity and luxury or what they need to consider and what not ...so I wouldn't think too hard about a coffee for £5 but I wouldn't impulsively drop £50 on a top. Others would or wouldn't do either of those.

I earn 90K and am very careful as I’m a single parent and know that I may not earn this salary for the rest of my career. I keep my outgoings as reasonable as possible so that a lower salary could cover them. I do spend more day to day and don’t really think before saying ‘yes’ to a lunch out or other weekly activities but I know I could rein this in if I needed to.