From Childhood, You’ve Been Programmed to Fail Financially

 

You Got a Raise. And You’re Still Broke. Here’s Why.

Let’s not sugarcoat it.

Most people don’t have a money problem — they have a mentality problem. You don’t need a pay rise, you need a mindset shift.

Because what’s the first thing that happens when people get a raise?

They start thinking about what they can spend it on.

A better car. A new flat. Upgraded gym. A few more brunches.

That instinct — to spend first — is what keeps people broke, no matter how much they earn.

From Childhood, You’ve Been Programmed to Fail Financially

It’s not really your fault — you’ve been conditioned this way.

From an early age, we’re taught to associate more money with a better lifestyle. Not once are we taught to associate it with freedom, future security, or compound growth.

We’re taught how to earn, how to spend — never how to save, or how to grow.

We’re told to enjoy the fruits of our labour. And we should.

But without structure, that enjoyment comes at the cost of our future. And by the time you realise it, it’s usually too late.

Lifestyle Creep: The Silent Wealth Killer

Here’s what happens: You get a raise. Your spending goes up. You feel wealthier.

But your actual financial situation? It hasn’t changed.

Why? Because the extra income never made it past your current account. It never had the chance to build, to grow, or to work for you.

This is lifestyle creep — and it’s the number one reason people stay broke even with high incomes.

No amount of money will ever be enough if your instinct is to spend more when you earn more.

Rewiring Your Instinct: From Spend First to Save First

The wealthy don’t just earn more. They think differently.

They don’t ask: “What can I upgrade?” They ask: “How much of this can I grow?”

Discipline is the difference between being rich and staying rich.

The truth is, you can still have the lifestyle you want. But the order matters:

  1. Save first.
  2. Invest regularly.
  3. Spend what’s left — guilt-free.

It’s not about depriving yourself. It’s about designing a life that includes both enjoyment today and security tomorrow.

What Smart Money Does With a Raise

✔️ Automatically increases investment contributions ✔️ Keeps lifestyle inflation in check ✔️ Builds emergency buffers alongside enjoyment ✔️ Uses every raise to reduce the time until retirement

Let me ask you something: When was the last time you got a raise and actually increased your savings rate?

If the answer is never, it’s time to reflect on that.

Because every time you earn more and spend more, you’re buying into the illusion of wealth. But every time you earn more and save more, you’re buying time, freedom, and peace of mind.

That’s the difference.

You Don’t Need to Be Rich to Start. But You Need to Start to Get Rich.

The truth is, most people never get wealthy because they never outgrow the mindset that spending = success.

But the ones who do? They get wealthy on average salaries, with average jobs, over time — because they build the habit.

And habits beat hustle every time.

Final Thought: If your default reaction to a pay rise is to spend more — that’s your sign.

You’ve been programmed. Now it’s time to rewire.

Because the only way to break out of the cycle is to change the way you think. Not tomorrow. Now.

If you're ready to build that discipline, structure, and mindset — that's what I do.

📌 Let’s have a conversation

https://outlook.office365.com/book/SkyboundWealthManagement4@skyboundwealth.com/s/GxL75GQxr0KaVOmhTMCyZg2?ismsaljsauthenabled=true

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