It's easy for lifestyle creep to go undetected
I recently did a large de-cluttering project by making inventory of all my stuff. I managed to throw out about 100 items and was pretty happy with the end result.
Only after going through the inventory again and categorizing the items by "core function" and "nice to have", I came to realize that my perception of what was 'necessary' was pretty distorted. Lifestyle inflation had become my new reality. Here are some examples:
Storage jars
I used to store food in their original packaging. Now I can’t live without filling flour, noodles, seeds, etc. into these specialized storage containers.
Fitness center subscription
I used to get by for years with bodyweight training and a mini home gym. Now I feel like the fitness center has become a necessity.
7 different headphones
In-ear vs. loose-fit earbuds? USB-C, 3.5mm or wireless? Over-ear vs. on-ear headset? Active vs. passive vs. no noise cancelling?
All of these have their own inconveniences. I don't like wireless, but sometimes it’s useful. USB-C headphones are terrible, yet the only wired option for my phones. I hate in-ear/noise cancelling, but sometimes it is useful.
I used to have 1 pair of headphones with a 3.5mm jack. Life was serene and peaceful back then.
Seat cushion
I bought a cushion only for those occasions when I have to sit on the floor. Madness.
Mp3 player I bought a tiny premium mp3 player so that I can listen to music independently from the phone. It’s sometimes nice to use it during sports. However, I never once listened to music during sports for decades and life was great.
Magazine subscriptions
I bought these in the name of mental minimalism to stay away from the daily news and politics bullshit. Now I have 6 different subscriptions I cannot do without (still better than scrolling reddit and news all day though).
Backpacks in 4 different sizes
For years I used to have only one backpack. Now I have a) daily backpack b) a hiking backpack c) a heavy-duty backpack d) a bug-out bag.
Scented candles
I bought them once by accident. Now I keep buying them. Before that I thought scented candles have zero utility.
3 different types of sneakers
I used to get by with one pair. Now I have more shoe space, so I bought more sneakers, just so that I can have more variety. Should I wear sneaker A, B or C today? Just writing this out make me realize how insane this sounds.
HDMI - USB-C cable
I bought this only so that I can stream videos from my phone to the hotel’s TV during holidays. Before that I didn't even know that this was possible or that I needed to have it.
Bathroom scales I used to go for years without scales. A glance in the mirror was more than enough to realize it was time to cut back as I was getting fat. Now I am of the opinion that scales are necessary to track my weight. Lunacy!
These are just some examples. There were dozens more. The important lesson for me is that lifestyle inflation can creep up on you without you even noticing. Once you have made a transition, this is the new reality you live in (an item you cannot do without). And you fully believe that new reality.
Those little lifestyle transitions add up over time and it becomese an almost impenetrable wall. You'd have to actively undo those behavior changes to become your old self again.
Looking back at your own life, did you ever experience lifestyle creep without noticing? Or are you fully aware of it and do you actively curb it or just let it happen over time?