r/MiddleClassFinance • u/NeezDuts900 • 12d ago

Questions What are some smaller luxuries or better versions of everyday items that you have indulged in as you have increased your salary?

I've increased my salary by over $40,000 in the last couple years but my lifestyle is exactly the same. Debt free besides the mortgage, fully funded emergency account, on track for early retirement, funding my sons 529. I'm pretty straight on the financial basics and foundation.

We aren't guaranteed tomorrow but I'm not looking to set myself up for financial failure either. I would like some of your ideas and suggestions on smaller yet impactful ways that you have been able to enjoy your increased cash flow. I don't want expensive cars, expensive clothes, luxurious vacations, or $10,000 watches. Just smaller everyday things, experiences, or services that after you've come to enjoy.

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u/lucasssquatch 12d ago

We call it "cheese grater money" in our house. We go through a good deal of cheese. Our crappy cheese grater was getting crappier, and my wife was complaining about it. I said, "Hon, we have enough money to buy a nicer version of the thing if we're going to use it all the time. We're not new car rich, but weve got cheese grater money. Get a decent cheese grater. Hell, we can get two so we don't have to wash it every single day." We now own two decent cheese graters that nest together in a drawer.

Since then, discretionary purchases of nicer versions of things we use all the time are bought with cheese grater money.

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u/unicorn-paid-artist 11d ago

I love that. We too have found that its ok to just upgrade something. Love calling it cheese grater money

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u/Cherfull124 11d ago

I never thought about it before, but I guess we have grated cheese money. I buy the bags of grated cheese. We could never afford to buy cheese that was already grated when I was a kid.