What’s that raise really for?

Raises feel good — they’re proof your hard work is paying off.

But here’s the catch: what’s that raise really for?

Most professionals don’t have a clear answer. Without an Enough Number, every raise just fuels a bigger lifestyle… and a deeper reliance on the paycheck.

That’s why so many of us work harder, earn more, and yet don’t feel freer.

The real question isn’t “How much more can I earn?”
It’s “When does more money actually buy me freedom?”

Here’s the shift:

• Raises without intention = lifestyle creep.
• Defining your Enough Number = leverage.
• Enough Number is the point where money buys you options, not obligations.

Morgan Housel said it best:
“Money’s greatest intrinsic value—and this can’t be overstated—is its ability to give you control over your time.”

I had to learn that lesson myself.

For years, I did what I thought I was supposed to: the MBA, the corporate job, the steady raises and bonuses.

On paper, I was “doing everything right.”
But every raise seemed to vanish — house projects, vacations, lifestyle upgrades. Exciting for a moment, then I was right back to feeling stressed and restless.

One day it hit me: I wasn’t moving forward. I was just running faster on the treadmill.

When I finally defined what “enough” looked like for me, everything shifted.
It wasn’t about chasing the next raise or bonus anymore.
It was about putting that money to work for a clear purpose: building my F-You Fund so I had options.

That’s when money started buying me freedom — not just “more.”

Without an Enough Number, the treadmill never stops.

So here’s my question for you:
👉 What was your last raise really for — lifestyle, or leverage?