"The theme of this is inflation isn't the problem, it's us. It's our expectation."
What if the real culprit behind your financial stress isn't rising prices, but rising standards?
Our hosts, Natalie and Dan Slagle, get brutally honest about their own household spending, and explain why inflation might be the easy scapegoat when lifestyle creep is the actual problem.
After consistently overspending their $3,000 monthly discretionary budget (sometimes by $1,400) the Slages finally took a close look at their numbers.
The results were shocking: their spending has increased just 27% since 2018 (roughly 3.3% annually), but their bills have skyrocketed 193% over the same period. From $2,700 to $8,000 monthly, these "fixed" expenses reflect choices about location (Portland vs. Minnesota), childcare, and lifestyle upgrades they've made along the way.
Natalie points out that many expenses we consider "forced", like rent or daycare, are actually choices. They've increased spending above inflation rates while blaming inflation itself!
Dan brings up the generational shift. That is, previous generations lived with less, but constant social media advertising makes contentment nearly impossible. Every Instagram scroll presents another "necessary" purchase.
Their approach involves separating bills from discretionary spending using their proprietary cash flow worksheet. Expectations evolve. For example, having a house cleaner feels essential now, though their parents managed without one.
As income rises during peak earning years, people naturally want more "padding," typically exceeding actual inflation.
The solution is to get together with your spouse to do annual spending reviews, have honest communication about thresholds, and reframe "less" as "enough" while focusing on experiences over material purchases.
Key Topics:
- Examining Household Budget Categories and Overspending Patterns (03:52)
- Spending Data Since 2018 (10:29)
- Bills Increasing 193% from $2,700 to $8,000 Monthly (15:10)
- Fixed Expenses are Actually Choices about Lifestyle (20:59)
- Generational Differences in Expectations and Normalcy (22:02)
- Social Media's Role in Constant Consumption Pressure (23:24)
- Adaptation Psychology (27:24)
- Planning an Annual Money Date to Reset Expectations (28:52)
Resources:
Natalie Slagle, CFP® and Dan Slagle, CFP® are the founding partners and lead financial planners at Fyooz Financial Planning — an independent firm dedicated to helping high-earning couples in their 30s and 40s confidently navigate the complexities of managing money together.
At Fyooz, they specialize in turning financial stress into strategy, guiding couples through everything from cash flow and investing to aligning money with shared goals.
Disclaimer: For updated disclosures, please visit fyoozfinancial.com.
