What it is: “Lagom” (pronounced “lah-gom”) is a Swedish word that means “just the right amount.” It’s their whole philosophy about balance.
How it applies to money:
- Swedes aren’t flashy with wealth. Driving a fancy car or wearing expensive brands is actually seen as kinda tacky
- They value quality over quantity—buy fewer things, but buy them well
- Work-life balance is sacred. Making more money isn’t worth sacrificing your life
- High taxes are seen as contributing to society, not as punishment
The philosophy: Enough is enough. You don’t need excess to be happy.
What we can learn: American culture is SO focused on “more”—bigger house, nicer car, more stuff. But lagom asks: what if “enough” is actually better than “more”?
Real talk: This one hit me hard. I catch myself wanting things just because other people have them, not because I actually need them. The Swedish approach is like: why are you trying to impress people who don’t even care?