The concept is simple. As you upgrade your career and make more money, you’ll spend more, simply because you can. Bigger meals, bigger car, bigger house. And why not? You worked hard for it. Why not enjoy it?

Lifestyle creep is just a term to describe what inevitably will happen as we improve our lives. Why not enjoy the better things in life? That’s the whole point of living, isn’t it? Just take a look around you and see all the things you bought over the years. Realize that it could always be better, and it could always be worse. That 50-inch tv sitting on the wall could be a 75-inch tv in someone else’s house. It could also be 32 inches. Or no tv at all. We buy what we can afford. At least that’s the concept.

Lifestyle creep has a bad reputation because it’s used to describe people that make more money but can’t seem to get ahead. Sure, they make six-figures, but constantly complain that they don’t have any savings, didn’t put anything into retirement, and live paycheck to paycheck. Meanwhile, they drive the newest model car, live in a McMansion, and brag about their recent trip to Italy. See the problem?

The truth is simply that people don’t understand how to save or budget. At a certain point, spending money is a choice. You have food, clothing, and shelter. You take care of your family’s basic needs. After that, it’s your decision to do what you want with your money. People just decide to make terrible decisions.

Examples of poor decisions? Buying that 80k lifted truck with an 18% APR loan so you can drive it to your office job where you make 50k a year. Starting a marriage by being $60,000 in debt because the wedding just has to be magical! Meanwhile, your car is about to die and you’re two months late on your rent. And my favorite: spending thousands of dollars on a once in a lifetime concert or event…for the fifth time. Then complaining that you can’t afford groceries this month because the economy is trash. Surprisingly, both can be true. The economy can be trash, and so is your spending habits.

Lifestyle creep is a part of life. So is making sound financial decisions. Live within your means. Learn to do better with your money. Your future self who doesn’t have to work till they’re 80 to afford being alive will thank you for it.