Are We Working Harder Just to Maintain the Same Lifestyle?

[Female King]

It's better you are increasing your income as price of other things keep to increase there will be some kind of balance in it rather than when your income is not increasing and price other things you needed continue to increase, to beat the cost of things is to continue increasing your income by increasing your source of income and be of good financial discipline, as we continue to grow responsibility also continue to increase and many other things so if you can't increase your source of income there will be problem.

[bakasabo]

I would chose to work harder and more to have the same lifestyle I have than to cut expenses and live differently, or to change quality of life and be happy with current earnings. Dont forget also that people get used to what they have and people endlessly want to get more and better. I also dont know, if there is a chance, who would not work harder to get extra money? I dont think there are a lot of those who seriously consider that they have enough money and dont plan to do anything more.

[Ever-young]

To answer your question, we don’t work hard to maintain same lifestyle.

The idea of working hard, is basically to survive, when you want to acquire wealth, you have to apply smartness.
Coming back to your idea of salary increment. There are many that work in a public firm and their salary has remained the same. This people are surviving even in the high cost of living and the unfriendly economy. So fortunately your salary is doubled, and it still cannot do anything for you, you’re probably the problem.

If your salary is only feeding you and paying your rents and maybe basic needs, you may probably be financially reckless. Because if you survived your initial salary, the double should be a win.

Actually the economy is frustrating, but always finding a way to navigate with smartness is what makes you a genius. Depending on just one particular salary, from one source, but yet it’s unable to fit your bills, I must say the risk is underestimated.
People are rich, people are wealth, and they’re not buying their things any cheaper than the poor. Sometimes we just put everything on the economy even when our own efforts is minimal.

So personally, I’m not putting my best for the same lifestyle.

[icebar]

It is known to all that inflation increases with time. If someone increases his income, then even if the value of money decreases, it can balance it, but if the income decreases, then it will create instability for everyone. If my income is high, I will also try to create new income opportunities keeping in mind the future. I will invest in new businesses. I will also work as hard as I can for this because I know that the way I am working today, I may not be able to work according to that in the future, so I will not be limited to a specific income from here and I will try to work as hard as possible. In the future, even if the lifestyle is to be maintained as it is at present, the income will have to increase there and to increase the income, I will have to work hard and create new income opportunities, otherwise it will not be possible to maintain the standard of living in the future.

[Hypnotizer]

-snip

Increase in income doesn’t equal a good measure of financial progress rather the increase in what your income can purchase does.

Assuming you got a raise from $1000 to $3000 and inflation has increased the cost of living such that your increased income would not be able to purchase 3x or 2x what you can purchase when you earn $1000 then that’s definitely not a financial progress. Your income just matched your new economic reality and you’re still going to maintain the same standards of living.

If your income keeps increasing but the things you need also keeps becoming more expensive, are you getting richer, or you're simply earning more money to maintain the same lifestyle?

You’re not getting richer, and that’s why “you don’t get rich working for someone”, you’re only getting more money to maintain the same economy reality because of inflation. Most employees don’t get richer because of their wages or salaries, though they’re some small fraction that get richer earning more salary but the vast majority don’t.

I don't understand what you are implying, reading your post, an increase in financial inflow is not good financial progress?  So tell me what is a good financial progress in personal level? 

“An increase in financial inflow with an increased inflation”, That’s what I’m implying in my post.

A good financial progress is when your new income has more purchasing power than your old income.

As far as I understand, an increase in cash inflow, such as an increase in income, is very good financial progress because we are able to maintain our lifestyle and at the same time get more funds to save.  It can even elevate our way of living.

Did you read my second paragraph? If you read it then you’ll have understood what I was saying, basically if your increased income can only cover what your former income does without anymore increase in purchasing power because of inflation, then that’s definitely not a financial progress.

[Pearl_20]

I feel that for some persons that is what is really happening, they work hard to keep same lifestyle, as this our present economy where rent, food stuffs are on the rise on daily basis and their are people whose transportation to work is even eating deep into their salary. Most people spend more compared to what the earn at the end of the month, some people earns about 30% more on salary but spends 40% more because of inflation.

I think that real progress is measured on when you keep working and then there's more left the end of the day, like you work hard, you stay comfortable and then spend less, and you can see yourself growing not when you keep working hard and it seems you're just stuck at a place, like you're just in a cycle.

Someone can have an increased income but then if you spend more it means your just at a particular place, like you're just keeping up with the same lifestyle.

[Halifat]

It's better you are increasing your income as price of other things keep to increase there will be some kind of balance in it rather than when your income is not increasing and price other things you needed continue to increase, to beat the cost of things is to continue increasing your income by increasing your source of income and be of good financial discipline, as we continue to grow responsibility also continue to increase and many other things so if you can't increase your source of income there will be problem.

It will be a big problem if someone decided to relax in time of getting more income, when it comes to increasing your source of income is not only for people that are balance alone but everyone. We can easily speak of the present, but the future will be very difficult to identify and that alone is enough for someone to continue to increase their source of income, so that any problem that arises we can be able to solve it without any issue and again not only that if you are a family man, that is you and married, we know the life then is very stressful, but with the money things become easier.

[perfect999]

To be honest with you alot of youths are in the situation especially in my country where the economy isnt stable enough for you to even adjust to two jobs for survival, like alot of people are just maintaining their lives, basically anything to survive. You can be making a consistent figure from January till now but the price of fuel, the price of local food stuff even common transportation, i can bet you the price has been sahking from month to month, so yea alot of people are working just to be able to survive and thats very bad becuase years later when you retire, there is will be no saved up money becuase you have been surviving since with your savings

I have seen this with the corporate crowd. A lot of them, especially the ones newly starting their career are the ones to earn hand to mouth without thinking about their future. I have been one of those so know how exactly it feels. The moment I used to get my salary, I used to rush towards a nice bar/pub where I would spend a decent chunk of my salary. Parties would continue for a few more days until more than 50% of my salary is wiped away. At that moment, I would realise I have bills to pay and the remaining salary would go there. By month end, I used to hardly have enough money for basic necessities.

This continued for a few months until I realised how difficult the situation might get if any sudden expense comes forward. At that point, I started expanding my income sources so I don't have to rely on salary alone. Now, I can save a decent money from my income without spending it on useless things.

[Cheema02]

Salary increment is just another subtle way of stealing away the workers sense of reasoning because when you start complaining about economic hardship, they give you a pay rise with a proportional rise in inflation. That's how to know that it's not every additional income that easily makes an easier lifestyle. We work harder in more cases after realising that our income is no longer enough to sustain our responsibilities. When we succeed in getting an additional source of income, we already know that we're only chasing to meet an already difficult lifestyle which is why several increments in our income doesn't really cause any much savings or luxury lifestyle because you already have inflation to deal with.

Increments in salary do not mean that you become financially stable or that you experience financial growth. Because your salary increases according to inflation and according to financial year. Why do people think that increases in salary are a great achievement? When we make a record in start of our spending, we find that our required cash day by day increases but we have the same budget. We have a lot of daily needs, like we have to pay rent or purchase groceries and also purchase food, but the price of all stuff increases continuously. So is the increase in salaries useless? Here the answer is that an increase in salaries is not useless, because as inflation increases, we are forced to shorten our budget.

But when we get increments in our salaries, then this burden somehow decreases, and we continue to run the system. So, with salary, we are bound and if we want to live peacefully financially, then we must have multiple sources of income. So, we can be better prepared to handle rising inflation and get through tough times more comfortably.

[BTC FutureKing]

It's better you are increasing your income as price of other things keep to increase there will be some kind of balance in it rather than when your income is not increasing and price other things you needed continue to increase, to beat the cost of things is to continue increasing your income by increasing your source of income and be of good financial discipline, as we continue to grow responsibility also continue to increase and many other things so if you can't increase your source of income there will be problem.

You are absolutely right.In this era of inflation it is difficult to survive on just one source of income because the prices of things are skyrocketing and there is no clear possibility of controlling them.But to face this problem you will have to invest in other things that will give you continuous profits.Most people do not have capital so they should eliminate unnecessary expenses and collect capital from the monthly budget and invest in more than one place so that the future is also secure and no matter how much inflation increases nothing will be able to harm you. I think the government should also reduce inflation a little because due to this the poor classes are more affected and they are also given less opportunities to improve themselves.

[vs2014]

It's true that earning more money doesn't always mean we have a better financial life. Sometimes our income may increase but if daily expenses also get higher over time then our extra income may disappear within short time. If anyone start earning higher than previous years but still suffering from investing or savings then that extra money is actually nothing but a number. Real financial progress means we have some extra money left even after paying all the basic livelihood expenses. However should need to create balance between earning and spending instead of spending money for unnecessary things. Besides it's wise to save some money aside during emergency

[Freeveto]

If your income keeps increasing but the things you need also keeps becoming more expensive, are you getting richer, or you're simply earning more money to maintain the same lifestyle?

You will need to control your spendings by differentiating between needs and wants. The important things you can’t leave without and your needs, you will have to solve them first, if you have extra money to spend, that is when you consider things you want because they are not as important as needs and can be skipped for sometime. If you can actually control your spendings even if you earn more money, you will get richer, but if you didn’t control your spendings, you will not get richer no matter how much you earn.

Don’t allow peer pressure to change you, if you decide to what will impress people, you will spend all your earnings without saving a dime, but if you are focused, you can save more money and have them invested in Bitcoin for your future.

[Mayor of ogba]

If someone move from earning $500 to $1,000 a month, and all of a sudden rent increases, food costs more, transportation gets more expensive, and the person was able to use his or her $1000 monthly salary to cover these expenses without borrowing money to do that, that alone means that the person is financially better off because his or her previous $500 wouldn't have paid the expenses the $1,000 salary paid.

[SUPERSAIAN]

Earning more money and being financially comfortable are two different situation in the present day global economy. that you are earning more than your previous salary doesn't always mean you're financially better off.

In reality, Someone can move from earning $500 to $1,000 a month and still feel like nothing really changed. the reason in most cases is that Rent also increases, food costs more, transportation gets more expensive, and suddenly that extra $500 doesn't feel like much anymore.

It begs the question, is increased income really a good measure of financial progress?

If your income keeps increasing but the things you need also keeps becoming more expensive, are you getting richer, or you're simply earning more money to maintain the same lifestyle?

As your income rises, the prices of the products you buy increase at the same rate; it is a difficult situation. Lately, I have been reflecting on whether it is truly right to work so hard and sacrifice oneself in such circumstances. I realized that I need to make time for myself and that, no matter how much I work, there is no real extra benefit to it.

I decided instead to focus on saving, making sound investments with those savings, and practicing patience. In my opinion, working extra hours is exhausting and, in most cases, unnecessary.

[Rengga Jati]

It begs the question, is increased income really a good measure of financial progress?

If your income keeps increasing but the things you need also keeps becoming more expensive, are you getting richer, or you're simply earning more money to maintain the same lifestyle?

I do not really think in those terms. Instead, I focus on how to continuously increase my income, consistently and sustainably. I am not interested in aiming for a lavish lifestyle right off the bat. That's not for me.

I prefer to focus on the expenses that are truly necessary, rather than on the image I project. It’s more about financial stability and being prepared for whatever comes my way. I want the best education and healthcare for my children and family, and I want to provide the best for them as well as for the people around us. That said, having substantial financial resources is certainly a plus. It would allow me to do many of the things you’re hoping for without having to agonize over the financial implications.

[LogitechMouse]

Re: Are We Working Harder Just to Maintain the Same Lifestyle?

Yes, and that's what you call as "Competing with INFLATION."

Your $500 right now isn't as valuable as your $500 years ago so what's your solution? You'll work hard so that you can maintain the same lifestyle that you have. Back in the days, one job is enough to fulfill your monthly expenses, but after a few years, that will not be enough anymore and you need to either have another income source or ask for a raise in order to achieve the same lifestyle that you have.

An increased income doesn't necessarily is a good measurement for financial progress. Net worth of a person is a good measuring tool. You can increase your income, but if your expenses is also increasing, your not progressing financially, but you're just trying to have a better lifestyle that might not be sustainable in the long run.

[Etranger]

 If your income has doubled, from $500 to $1,000, you should feel an improvement in your financial situation. Rent is not going to increase that quickly, and although food prices do go up, they certainly don't double. So with that kind of increase in income, you should notice a difference.

Especially if you know how to manage your budget properly, you should be able to see where the rest of your money is going. And when your income increases, you should be able to save more. If you can't save anything despite earning more, then your desires and lifestyle are probably increasing along with your income, and you are starting to spend money on things you didn't spend money on before.

Yes, if your salary doubles, it’s hard not to notice an improvement in your financial situation. Unless, of course, that raise goes straight toward paying off existing debt. After all, when someone owes money to the banks, any extra income ends up going toward clearing those debts rather than improving their quality of life. You don’t really feel the extra money until the debts are paid off. Only then can you actually spend it the way you want, rather than the way your circumstances force you to.

[arwin100]

 If your income has doubled, from $500 to $1,000, you should feel an improvement in your financial situation. Rent is not going to increase that quickly, and although food prices do go up, they certainly don't double. So with that kind of increase in income, you should notice a difference.

Especially if you know how to manage your budget properly, you should be able to see where the rest of your money is going. And when your income increases, you should be able to save more. If you can't save anything despite earning more, then your desires and lifestyle are probably increasing along with your income, and you are starting to spend money on things you didn't spend money on before.

Yes, if your salary doubles, it’s hard not to notice an improvement in your financial situation. Unless, of course, that raise goes straight toward paying off existing debt. After all, when someone owes money to the banks, any extra income ends up going toward clearing those debts rather than improving their quality of life. You don’t really feel the extra money until the debts are paid off. Only then can you actually spend it the way you want, rather than the way your circumstances force you to.

If the raise they get will only goes to their debts, then this is temporarily more on relief than having a life improvements.

They could probably find the real relief and also progress, once they  are paid with those obligations they have. Then choose not to go back on that miserable situation or cycle.

But many people struggle to be in good situation, since bad decision always hit them so bad. This is the reason why they undergo on situation on which they need to work so hard just to maintain their current lifestyle.

[Tmoonz]

At first there is no limit towards a standard lifestyle rather you can only be limited by your income, that is to say we are working harder to improve our lifestyle and that is primarily, but if things are not as good as expected then maintaining the same lifestyle only becomes a better option than going below, there is no hustlers out there that doesn't want to have a better life compared to their present, just as we may have it that humans want are insatiable and no one in his reasonable state will keep working harder just to maintain the same lifestyle when there are better options, every one want more and to keep enjoying life at the fullest.

[PVequalNRT]

It's better you are increasing your income as price of other things keep to increase there will be some kind of balance in it rather than when your income is not increasing and price other things you needed continue to increase, to beat the cost of things is to continue increasing your income by increasing your source of income and be of good financial discipline, as we continue to grow responsibility also continue to increase and many other things so if you can't increase your source of income there will be problem.

You will get tired at one stage and may achieve nothing. When you look at how some people think that their parents didn't try enough with financial level, they think they didn't try enough meanwhile the economy is the one that destabilize their life because the price of things continues to increase even though they are earning well. It's in 21st century that people start to realize that you need to have other stream of income to be able to survive the economy.

However, if you want to have a financial freedom, make sure you have an investment even if you are doing well, there is no freedom like having a big investment that is working for you.