It's called lifestyle creep — the more you earn, the more you spend, often without thinking about it.

But spending without thinking can add up, leading to a feeling that you're short of money, even when you're on a high income.

Perth-based private wealth adviser David Andrew said the majority of Australians had no savings, even those on high incomes.

"Of households earning over $200,000 a year, 40 per cent were living pay cheque to pay cheque," he told Jessica Strutt on ABC Radio Perth.

Sorry, this audio has expired The money trap: lifestyle creep

Lifestyle creep starts for many people when they are young and often happens without them realising, according to Lacey Filipich, founder of advisory service Money School.

"I had the experience most uni students can probably relate to of timing your drinking for the cheapest drinks night and buying the passion pop or the cask wine and that being normal and still having a great night," she said.

"Over time, I started working with people who make a lot more money and I remember one day we bought a $97 bottle of wine and drank it that night; that was sort of mind-blowing, but I got into the habit then of spending a lot more money."

How do you stop spending creep?

The secret is to stop and consider your spending before you get used to a change in income.

"Consumers very find it very, very tough to give anything up, so what you do with that pay rise becomes really important," Mr Andrew said.

"You're not actually giving anything up, you haven't got it yet, but it's a new opportunity.

"If you receive an inheritance or a pay rise, stop and think: What could I be doing with this?"

David Andrew says most people find it hard to give up extras once they have them. ( ABC Radio Perth: Emma Wynne )

Make it automatic

Both advisers recommended creating systems that bypassed the need for constant self-discipline when it came to spending.

Mr Andrew suggested young people start making extra contributions to their superannuation and avoid credit cards.

"We live off debit cards because you get that immediate sense I can only spend the money that I've actually got."

A number of listeners said they paid more tax than necessary to boost their refunds and put the money out of temptation's reach.

Anon: "My husband and I, on a modest income, elected to pay more tax throughout our working life and it paid for our annual holidays each year with the tax return."

Andre: "You need to force yourself to save. Go to your payroll department, ask them to take more tax out of your wage ... you will get used to working with what is left, and then when you do your tax return you get your savings back."

Lacey Filipich suggests being as aggressive as possible with your saving. ( ABC Radio Perth: Emma Wynne )

Ms Filipich suggested bypassing the tax office and having a set amount sent to a separate bank account each pay day.

"Set up a second bank account that's not connected to any of your cards, and hide it from your online banking so you can't see it and you can't touch and do it automatically," she said.

"Then you get to keep the interest, not the tax department."

What really makes you happy?

Mr Andrew said many people found it hard to focus on saving for retirement, despite the fact they wanted to be financially secure in older age.

"It's just an overwhelmingly universal thing that people really want to be secure in their old age, yet people find it so hard to make that trade-off between today and tomorrow."

Ms Filipich, meanwhile, believes in aggressive saving, but not necessarily waiting until retirement to enjoy it.

"I will often say to people: If you had a 20 per cent pay cut, could you survive?" she said.

"My theory is, be as aggressive in your saving as you possibly can, because you can always get the money back if you need to spend it.

"You'll never catch me putting extra into my superannuation, and because I'll save and invest it, I can have access to the money now."

Give it away

For listener Beth, the best way to get satisfaction out of her savings is to give money away.

"If you give it away, the pleasure is never-ending," she said.

"A fancy car, boat, bathroom — the pleasure lasts at most six weeks, maybe six months, then you need another hit.

"One big donation to one worthy cause, the pleasure for that is ongoing, it never ends."