For the first time, 30-year-old Nina* from the UK upgraded her airplane ticket from economy to business class last Christmas. It felt exhilarating to spend a little extra on comfort – an unapologetic treat for herself and one of Nina’s rare moments of self-prioritisation. The experience was every bit worth it.

But as the eldest Black daughter in her family, and unofficial financial provider, she couldn’t shake the pang of guilt that came with the upgrade. Nina earns at least £120,000 a year in financial consultancy and has good savings and several investments. Even though the £500 upgrade was an amount she could easily afford, she still wrestled with the unease of knowing she’d just spent the equivalent of someone’s salary back home on comfort.