Earn & Invest 709. How to Master Lifestyle Creep w/ Joel Larsgaard and Matt Altmix (Rewind)
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Feb 19, 2026 
Matt Altmix, co-host of How to Money who focuses on practical family finance, and Joel Larsgaard, personal finance communicator who champions values-driven spending, explore lifestyle creep vs intentional spending. They debate when rising expenses are reasonable. They discuss budgeting guardrails, spending categories worth increasing, and modeling money choices for kids.
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Grocery Budget Shift
- Matt shares his grocery spending rose from ~$800 to ~$1,600 monthly after adding kids and prioritizing nutrition.
- He happily upgraded food choices like prime ribeyes as a deliberate family value.
Prioritize A Few Spending Categories
- Decide a few categories you truly value and intentionally spend more there instead of inflating everything.
- Avoid treating every category as your 'craft beer' splurge; prioritize selectively.
Make Eating Out Purposeful
- Make eating out intentional (date nights or memorable family meals) rather than default convenience.
- Plan meals to avoid mindless spending and retain value from dining experiences.