I Just Got a $12,000 Raise: How Do I Avoid Lifestyle Inflation and Actually Keep the Money?
Most people who get a meaningful raise feel wealthier for about three months — then feel exactly the same. Their spending quietly expanded to absorb the new income before they had a plan. Here’s a five-step framework for allocating a $12,000 raise ($750/month after tax) deliberately: the priority order for debt, savings, and investing, the one trap that catches almost everyone, and how to actually enjoy some of it without guilt.










