Hedonic Ratchet / 50%-of-Raise Check

"I just got a raise. If I let lifestyle absorb part of it, am I closer to FI — or further?"

Each new dollar of lifestyle is not a one-time expense; it permanently raises the nest egg you need by $25.

— Debugging Your Personal Finance, Chapter 13

	Before raise	After raise
Expenses	—	—
Savings rate	—	—
Freedom number (25× expenses)	—	—
Years to FI	—	—

Each $1 of recurring expenses you keep adds $25 to the size of the portfolio you need. Even a "modest" 50% lifestyle absorption can flatten the gains from a raise if expenses creep faster than savings.

From Chapter 13 of Debugging Your Personal Finance. Simple calculator · Inputs stay in your browser · Not financial advice.