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BiggerPockets Money

Why I’m Baking Lifestyle Inflation Into my Coast FI Plan

Sep 23, 2026 · 32m

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About this episode

Lifestyle inflation can quietly derail your path to financial independence, but does spending more as your income and life change have to be a bad thing? Scott Trench and Evan Lawler break down how spending changes through different stages of life, what the data says about future expenses like housing and childcare, and how to build a realistic financial independence or Coast FI plan. They also explore the FI community’s shift away from extreme frugality and how to use data, flexibility, and better spending expectations to build wealth without sacrificing your quality of life.To go beyond the podcast:Check out the Budget Calculator from this episode: https://biggerpockets…