Finally! The hard work paid off, and I am earning better and getting paid more. With the raise comes a little more financial freedom to splurge. Other than having a bigger budget for savings and paying monthly bills, I can now enjoy a few more of the things and experiences that were previously out of reach.
I mean, I deserve this. After all, isn’t that why most of us work? We don’t just hustle to survive and support our families; we also do it to afford the things we want.
But despite earning more, somehow, my money still feels tight.
Maybe that’s because of inflation — not only the kind affecting the economy, but also the kind happening in my lifestyle.
The hidden toll of subscriptions and memberships
IMAGE CREDIT: Pexels
After receiving a higher salary, one source that quietly drains my wallet is the growing list of subscriptions and memberships I have signed up for across different areas of my life.
When it comes to entertainment, I pay for premium access on Spotify to listen to uninterrupted music. I also subscribe to Netflix and Disney+ to watch my favorite films and TV shows.
On the professional side, as an editor who creates graphics and video materials, I pay for premium tools and features in software such as Adobe Photoshop, Canva, and CapCut.
Along with those, I pay monthly for additional Google Drive storage to keep all my files.
Outside of work, maintaining a healthy body is also important to me, so I have a membership at a local gym. Then, for grocery shopping, I pay for an annual S&R membership to take advantage of sales and wholesale pricing on various goods.
The thing is, each of these subscriptions and memberships takes only a small amount from my account. However, when they are all added up, the total can become surprisingly expensive.
Additionally, several of these expenses are easy to overlook because they are automatically charged, making them almost invisible in my monthly spending.
The adult price of healing my inner child
IMAGE CREDIT: Magnific
Now that I have adult money, it’s time to live out some of the dreams of my inner child.
As a kid, I remember relentlessly begging my mother for toys and spending long hours at computer cafes.
Since money was tight back then, my parents naturally had other priorities. So, I couldn’t always get the toys I wanted, let alone afford the in-game items for the online games I loved.
Today, I can finally treat myself by collecting those toys — not necessarily to play with them, but to proudly display them as trophies and reminders of how far I’ve come. When it comes to gaming, I can now freely buy character cosmetics, items, and game passes that I couldn’t afford growing up.
One purchase at a time, my childhood is definitely healing — except this kind of retail therapy comes with a literal price tag, and it hurts my pocket every time I swipe.
The extra cost of convenience
IMAGE CREDITS: Rattanakun
As I grow older, I have come to value time almost as much as money. One way I practice this is by spending on convenience, particularly when it comes to transportation and meals.
Instead of commuting, I frequently use ride-hailing apps, booking Grab and Angkas rides to and from work. This isn’t really about feeling fancy — it simply spares me from heavy traffic, long walks, and the hassle of transferring between vehicles.
At home, I mostly rely on Foodpanda and other delivery services for dinner. As much as I want to eat home-cooked meals, ordering food is often the most practical thing to do in my situation. This is because I don’t always have the time or energy to prepare a meal after a long, tiring day at work.
Of course, this convenience comes at an extra cost, but it’s a trade-off I’ve adapted to and would rather pay for than spend more time struggling with the daily commute or preparing food when I’m already exhausted.
Bittersweet realization: Earning more isn’t having more
IMAGE CREDIT: Pexels
Being in a slightly better financial position is something to be grateful for and worth celebrating. Making room to splurge once in a while on the things that make us happy is not necessarily a bad thing.
However, as you’ve seen, getting a raise does not automatically mean having more money. When lifestyle inflation outpaces our salary increase, staying in control of our finances can become increasingly difficult. That is why finding the right balance matters.
This does not mean we should settle for less or deprive ourselves of the lifestyle we want. Rather, we should be smart and intentional about how we allocate our income.
Extra money should not become an excuse to spend carelessly or stop planning for the future.
A higher salary can give us more choices, but it can also create more opportunities to spend. The challenge is knowing which expenses genuinely make our lives better and which ones simply become habits because we can now afford them.
After all, financial freedom isn’t just about earning more. It’s also about making sure that more of what we earn actually stays with us.
