“I earn well and still feel broke”

What could be going on

Relative income: Fits if you measure yourself against people who earn more. Check who you compare your life with.

Hedonic adaptation: Could be that each rise becomes the new normal within months. Check what felt like a luxury three years ago.

Money status: Fits if spending keeps up an image: the right postcode, car or school, even when it strains you.

Mental accounting: Check whether money sits in separate mental pots, so a bonus feels free while the rent pot runs dry.

Money vigilance: Could be the feeling, not the numbers. Check whether your accounts are fine and the fear stays anyway.

Money worship: Fits if you believe the next rise will fix it, and the last one didn't.

Also said as

• good salary but always out of money
• six figures and living paycheck to paycheck
• where does all my money go
• why do i never have money even though i earn a lot
• high income but feel poor
• my partner and i earn well and still struggle