"Im used to spending too much money so in order to not getting a minimal pay cut im gonna work on unethical proyects." Isthe kind of insane thinking only people at HN seem to say without flinching.
Like at that point do not work at google, write ransomware for a company in Russia, they will pay even more money. Make bio weapons for a dictator in a civil war afflicted country of the third world. If Life style creep and your new Tesla to drive your kids to the private school is the only thing keeping you in check, you might as well trade stocks against life expectancy based on obesity reports and climate change effects on coastal areas.
That also accounts for expenses.
Do any of them send money home? Help parents or grandparents? Do any of them had to bring their parents or grandparents to live with them due to health issues? Lifestyle creep takes into account taking on more debt. That debt is not just in luxury like how most people think.
Lifestyle creep is believing luxuries or non essentials are essentials due to now them having become part of your day to day.