Avoiding Lifestyle Inflation

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Hey Coach,

Why Coaches Fall Into the Trap

You get a raise, a new contract, or your camp brings in record numbers. Feels great, right?
But then it happens…

👉 A bigger house.
👉 A newer car.
👉 A few more “small” subscriptions.
👉 Suddenly, that raise disappeared.

This is lifestyle inflation - when your spending grows as fast as (or faster than) your income.
It’s the silent opponent that keeps coaches stuck, no matter how much they earn.

The Truth About Lifestyle Inflation

Most people don’t go broke overnight.
They go broke one upgrade at a time.

Each new expense feels “reasonable.”

• “I’ve worked hard, I deserve this.”

• “It’s just $50 more a month.”

• “I’ll start saving more next year.”

But when you add it all up, your lifestyle starts coaching you.

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The Game Plan: Stay a Level Below

Winning coaches know: to stay ahead, you have to play within your system.
Same goes for your money.

🏀 Rule #1: Live one level below your income.
If your income goes up, don’t let your lifestyle follow immediately.
Let the gap grow - and invest the difference.

Example:

• You get a $500/month raise.

• Spend $100.

• Save or invest the other $400.
  That $400, invested monthly at 8%, grows to $293,000 in 30 years.

That’s the difference between short-term comfort and long-term freedom.

How Coaches Can Control Lifestyle Creep

1. Automate Your Wins

When your income increases, automatically raise your savings or investing percentage.
If it never hits your checking account, you won’t miss it.

2. Define “Enough”

Write down what enough looks like for you: housing, cars, travel, gear.
Knowing your finish line prevents endless upgrades.

3. Track Fixed Expenses

Your rent, car, insurance, and subscriptions are your “starters.”
If they balloon, your team (budget) loses flexibility.

4. Celebrate Without Spending

Reward yourself with time, experiences, or small wins - not debt or constant upgrades.

Coaching Analogy

Lifestyle inflation is like constantly adding plays to your offense without mastering the basics.
More complexity doesn’t make you better - it just adds chaos.

Financial simplicity wins games.
Every raise doesn’t have to mean every upgrade.

📝 Coach’s Challenge This Week

Think back to your first coaching job.
If you still made that same income today - what would you cut?

Then look at your current budget and find one area where lifestyle creep has slipped in.
Redirect that amount into savings or investments this month.

👉 Forward this to a coach who just got a raise or new job offer.
Success isn’t about how much you make - it’s about how much you keep.

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Coach Mike Klinzing
Founder, Wealth4Coaches
"Coach smarter. Save better. Live freer."