What is Lifestyle Inflation?

Storefront of two mannequins with stickers showing various percentages indicating a sale

Have you noticed that even when your income increases, it can feel like you still don’t have more money leftover at the end of the month? That’s because often, when our income increases, our expenses do too. This is a very real phenomenon called lifestyle inflation. It can sneak up on us despite our best…

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Nade’s Story: A Bronx Business Owner

This Bronx business owner was expecting a new member to the family, but never thought she’d be facing a pandemic. Welcoming a new baby in the time of coronavirus is scary enough. But for pregnant mother Nade, who is expecting her third child next month, concern for her health and her baby’s is compounded by…

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Wolf’s Story: It’s Not About Amassing a Fortune

Older white gentleman wearing a light blue tank top has his left arm in a sling while his wife wears a flowery shirt, lei, and sunglasses while she has her arm around her husband

Meet Wolf, a retired psychologist living in the mountains of Colorado with his wife and many animals. What do you do? My wife and I are retired. We have a small, 35-acre ranch here. We make a little bit of extra money with our goats and chickens. I also contract tutor online. It’s a good…

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Nastassia’s Story: I See Brightness in My Future

A family of five immigrants poses for a group selfie outside in Florida

Meet Nastassia, a mother of five and an immigrant from Jamaica who has been living in New York since 2009. What do you do? Right now I’m not working. I had an injury when I was pregnant with my last child, so I’m at home. My fiancĂ© just started at a new job at a…

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Lauren’s Story: Money Won’t Make You Happy

Wife and her husband pose for a professional picture with the wife standing up and putting her arms around her husband

Meet Lauren, a mother of four daughters (including a two-month-old baby!) who lives with her husband in Conway, South Carolina. What do you and your husband do? My husband is a produce manager at our neighborhood market. I am current filing for disability. What did your upbringing teach you about finances? Money doesn’t grow on…

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