My salary has increased significantly recently, and I’m wondering what the best strategies are to prevent lifestyle creep. I genuinely want to manage this money well, but I’ve never had any extra, so I’m approaching it with extreme caution. What safeguards should I take to ensure that I don’t find myself in a similar situation later on?
Best thing to do is automate your savings. Max your 401k. Send X Amount to an HYSA every paycheck. If you don’t see it, and don’t have to take steps to save it, you’re less likely to spend it.
live as if you have the income you used to have and save the rest. future you will thank you
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Congratulations on your pay increase! It’s really simple to fall victim to lifestyle creep. My best recommendation is to save the additional money and stick to your previous spending plan for a while. Then, gradually incorporate items that you actually enjoy, not simply those that you feel you ought to. You’ll be happy that you did!
Many congratulations on your promotion! Although it could be tempting to indulge, bear in mind that managing your money is the greatest approach to “keep things under wraps.” Establish and adhere to certain financial goals. Later on, you’ll thank yourself! 
I had to open a new savings account and have a few hundred dollars transferred to it automatically with every check when I was having problems saving. For me, it was effective. Before then, I had my savings and checking accounts with the same credit union and app, so it was too simple for me to move money from my savings to my checking account whenever my funds ran low.