Why You Are Earning More and Still Feels Like Falling Behind
After 13 years in financial planning, the best piece of advice I would give is this.
Be careful comparing yourself to others.
It is natural and you will do it anyway, so keep some perspective when it happens.
What you see on the outside is rarely the full picture.
Tip 1 - Recognise Comparison
The big house often comes with a big home loan and a fair bit of stress running quietly in the background. If it does not, there is usually a trade off somewhere else or help from mum and dad that is not obvious from the street.
Nice cars and furniture are often tied to debt. That investment or business win that looks easy from the outside usually came with long periods of uncertainty and sleepless nights when things did not look so certain.
You are only ever seeing the highlight reel.
Tip 2 - Recognise Growing Expectations
Many people tell me they want more balance in life. They want more time, more flexibility, and less pressure. Their bank accounts and home loan balances usually tell a different story.
Income grows and net worth improves on paper, but at the same time they keep committing to more.
Bigger homes, higher fixed costs like school fees, and lifestyle upgrades that quietly increase dependency on work.
5 years later they are earning double what they did before, yet feel like they have less money to play with than they did working part time at uni.
This rarely comes down to one bad decision. The real issue is that most decisions are made in isolation. An upgrade to the home is seen as just getting more space, not as extra years of work, the added stress of a larger home loan, or fewer hours with the kids right now to keep everything running.
When decisions are viewed one by one, they often feel reasonable. When you step back and connect them, the picture usually changes.
The alternative is not about doing less. It is about being intentional.
Getting clear on what your ideal plan actually looks like, then stress testing it. Understanding the trade offs before you commit. Making sure the hard work today is clearly linked to flexibility later, not just higher expenses.
There is nothing wrong with building wealth to open up options, as long as you know when those options are meant to show up.
Next time you think about balance, ask yourself what you actually mean by it. Look honestly at where your time, energy, and money are currently going, because that is usually where the real story sits.
Want to know more?
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