Lifestyle creep

[1] As discretionary income increases, individuals are able to spend money on things that were previously unaffordable.

[1][2] Spending money on things with ongoing maintenance costs, such as club memberships, also are demonstrated in lifestyle creep.

[5] Signs of lifestyle creep could include difficulty saving money and increasing debt.

[5] Reasons also include spender's need to project a certain image and social status onto others, thus buying expensive gadgets and items just to fit in.

[7] It can also become a particular problem near the age of retirement, where individuals tend to have the highest earning potential and decreased costs, such as not having the financial burden of raising children.