Original Orient Adventures

How I Learned That More Money Didn’t Mean More Peace

When I was younger, I thought more money would fix everything.

The late nights.

The stress.

The debt.

The anxiety over gas prices, grocery bills, birthdays coming up…

But as my paychecks grew, so did my spending.

I wasn’t upgrading my life — I was upgrading my lifestyle expectations.

And that’s where things started to unravel again.

The Trap of “I Deserve It”

After burning out from working two jobs, I told myself I deserved to relax.

I deserved to splurge.

I deserved that new tech, those takeout meals, that weekend trip.

And you know what? I did.

But the way I went about it didn’t involve a plan.

It wasn’t budgeting for joy — it was emotional spending dressed up as self-care.

And it cost me.

Lifestyle Creep Hits Different

“Lifestyle creep” is when your income goes up…

…but your spending quietly goes up with it.

Before you know it, your new raise is gone.

The problem isn’t always not making enough — it’s not keeping enough.

My bills weren’t bigger. My habits were.

I was still trying to live like I had two jobs, even though I was down to one.

And deep down, I was scared to feel broke again.

So I kept swiping. Kept spending.

Trying to outrun the stress — with comfort.

👀 Avoiding the Comparison Game

Another trap: other people’s lives.

It’s easy to scroll and start comparing:

Someone buying a new car A friend remodeling their kitchen Family going on vacations while you’re budgeting eggs

It can make you feel like you’re behind, or doing something wrong.

But what you don’t see are their bills, their debt, their struggles.

You only see the highlight reel.

And comparison — especially when money’s tight — is a fast way to fall into bad decisions.

Flipping the Script

Eventually, I had to rewire how I thought about money:

Wants vs. needs Long-term wins vs. short-term dopamine Security vs. status

It came down to this:

“What kind of peace do I want?”

The kind that comes with a package at the door every day?

Or the kind that comes from knowing my bills are paid, my credit is stable, and my fridge is full?

📊 What Helped Me Regain Control

✔️ 1. Unfollow the Triggers

I stopped following social media accounts that made me feel like I was falling behind.

No more “luxury haul” influencers or hustle culture feeds.

✔️ 2. Use the 24-Hour Rule

If I wanted something, I’d wait a full day.

If I still wanted it after 24 hours and it fit the budget — I’d consider it.

✔️ 3. Talk About It

I started having real conversations about money with people I trust — not to brag or complain, but to grow.

Final Thoughts

The biggest lesson I learned?

You can’t spend your way into stability.

You build it — with patience, with boundaries, and with intention.

Now when I make purchases, I ask:

Does this add peace to my life? Or is this filling a hole that peace should be filling?

The answer usually tells me everything I need to know.