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Americans are feeling anxious — so they’re ‘doom spending’
Channel 3000 News/CNN ^ | November 11, 2024 | CNN Staff

Posted on 11/11/2024 7:00:59 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin

Kelsea Palm was feeling out of sorts as the presidential election was approaching. So, she did what many Americans do when they’re feeling anxious: She went shopping.

The Wheaton College senior and her friend hit shops in Massachusetts the weekend before Election Day, and while Palm prides herself on shopping responsibly, she wound up impulse-buying a purse to ease her stress.

“It was a new thing that made us feel like we had some sort of control over our lives. We can vote, but what else can we do? We can get a bag that’ll make us happy,” she told CNN.

Palm is among the increasing number of consumers who cope with feelings of anxiety by “doom spending.”

Doom spending, or the practice of spending money to soothe fears about broader issues like politics or the economy, shows up everywhere from YouTube and TikTok videos to Reddit to personal finance discussions and data in surveys.

Gen Z and millennial consumers are also more likely to say it is better to treat themselves now rather than hold off for a future “that feels like it could change at any moment,” according to an Axios Vibes survey in June conducted by The Harris Poll.

While this kind of catharsis might work to temporarily allay worries, experts say doom spending poses a danger to consumers’ long-term financial health.

“We’re not always rational when it comes to our emotions, when it comes to our money,” said Courtney Alev, consumer financial advocate at Credit Karma. “It’s really easy to bury our heads in the sand and look for those quick dopamine hits when we’re feeling anxious or stressed.”

(Excerpt) Read more at channel3000.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: business; dcircularfiringsquad; economy; meltdown; trump
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"The economy President-elect Donald Trump is set to inherit is strong on paper, with a low unemployment rate and a projected economic growth rate better than other G7 economies."

Excuse me...WHAT?

1 posted on 11/11/2024 7:00:59 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

what a bingdat. people are spending because they now have an economy they can believe in. for four to five years anyway.


2 posted on 11/11/2024 7:06:33 AM PST by Qwapisking ("IF the Second goes first the First ges secnd" L.Star)
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To: FRiends

“If you can afford to spend, go ahead. But if you find yourself consistently putting yourself over your budget or feeling uncomfortable, then that’s the time to shift your behavior,” she said. “Recognize that you can get that dopamine hit from somewhere outside spending.”

I get a ‘dopamine hit’ from saving and watching my $ grow, versus buying a new purse.

Kelsea? You’re an idiot.


3 posted on 11/11/2024 7:12:11 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin
"Doom Spending".

Gotta admit. That was a new one to me. Has a nice ring to it, though...:)

DEMOCRAT DAUGHTER: MOOOOM! I am going to go do some doom spending with my friends!

DEMOCRAT MOM: "Doom Spending"?

DEMOCRAT DAUGHTER: Yes! It is when nothing goes your way, and in your mind you think the world is going to end at any moment, so you spend your money like there is no tomorrow! You taught me that! We are also going to go to a "Doom Party" tonight.

DEMOCRAT MOM: Oh. Okay. Be home by midnight. Do you need any money for your doom spending?

4 posted on 11/11/2024 7:12:16 AM PST by rlmorel ("A people that elect corrupt politicians are not victims...but accomplices." George Orwell)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

I don’t see it as a really high priority task, but it would be interesting if the Trump admin did forensics on economic data and established a really solid method for measuring employment, inflation, growth, whatever. Then consistently apply that good method for every year going back to 1980 or 1960 or whatever. Let’s see how the Democrats do.


5 posted on 11/11/2024 7:15:08 AM PST by ClearCase_guy (My decisions about people are based almost entirely on skin color. I learned this from Democrats.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Doom spending, or the practice of spending money to soothe fears about broader issues like politics


I spend more time thinking on how to invest in the Kingdom. How do you help people? Investing in opportunities with family and individuals is on my radar. Can be risky but maybe less risk that wall street.

Shooting arrows into the future.


6 posted on 11/11/2024 7:19:01 AM PST by PeterPrinciple (Thinking Caps are no longer being issued but there must be a warehouse full of them somewhere.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Correction... liberals are “doom spending”- conservatives by and ,Argentina are much smarter than that!


7 posted on 11/11/2024 7:19:44 AM PST by Bob434
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

BTTT


8 posted on 11/11/2024 7:30:35 AM PST by nopardons
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To: Diana in Wisconsin
Excuse me...WHAT?

The economy is strong on paper -- government lies -- but NOT in the real world.

9 posted on 11/11/2024 7:30:59 AM PST by piytar (Remember Ashli Babbitt, Rosanne Boyland, and Corey Comperatore!)
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To: Qwapisking

No sorry charlie, maybe the mental ill are


10 posted on 11/11/2024 7:37:22 AM PST by ronnie raygun
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To: Bob434
conservatives by and ,Argentina are much smarter than that!

Its funny how one comma out of place can take you places you never intended to go.

11 posted on 11/11/2024 7:37:26 AM PST by BlackbirdSST (Trump or Bust! Long live the Republic.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Indeed Channel 3000 News/CNN turning another page in the propaganda manual rubbish reading.


12 posted on 11/11/2024 7:41:01 AM PST by Vaduz
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Doom spending their way into doom debt. Brilliant. Now the stupids can go into debt just like their heroine KaMALa’s campaign ended up 20 million in the hole. Feel the ‘joy’ of spending until it comes time to pay up with pain plus interest. Morons.


13 posted on 11/11/2024 8:12:16 AM PST by tflabo (Truth or tyranny)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

The unemployment numbers have been bogus for YEARS & YEARS under DEMS. .

As for spending on a new ‘bag’-—

I use a billfold I probably bought for under $9.

Cash/change/checkbook/credit cards/ ID. Small comb.
Do NOT need much else.


14 posted on 11/11/2024 8:23:56 AM PST by ridesthemiles (not giving up on TRUMP---EVER)
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To: ClearCase_guy

IMO-—THE UNEMPLOYMENT NUMBERS ARE THE WORST NUMBERS IN THE FED GOVERNMENT.


15 posted on 11/11/2024 8:24:58 AM PST by ridesthemiles (not giving up on TRUMP---EVER)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

The only “doom spending” I did leading up to last Tuesday was to top off my supplies.

Now we will be working our stores into our menus at an increased rate to consume them before expiration, while we wait for the Trump energy policy to drive down grocery costs.

Winning.


16 posted on 11/11/2024 8:39:39 AM PST by ConservativeWarrior (Fall down seven times, stand up eight. - Japanese proverb)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

I also expect that some who sadly believed the Trump is Hitler BS are doomsday prepping stocking up on things like birth control, books and even food because they believe Trump will ban them. Already there are even crazy rumors that under Trump pregnancies and even women’s periods will be monitored for an abortion ban and that no fault divorce will be ended. The latest is that all vaccines will be banned by Trump.


17 posted on 11/11/2024 8:47:05 AM PST by The Great RJ
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To: piytar

Americans have been “Doom Spending” for almost 4 years now. Go to get groceries and if there is anything left maybe get essential clothing or laundry detergent, or other types of personal items. This is what American workers have been facing. Meanwhile the democrats have been throwing money at ILLEGAL ALIENS hand over fist. My DOOM SPENDING is deciding whether my family gets eggs, meat, and milk, or do we eat Ramien for a week to be able to pay for gas and electricity. FU DEMOCRATS, every single one of them that voted for Biden and now Harris. For you democrats that voted for Trump, why are you still a democrat? You say that you don’t support gun control, but you support the democrats that do. You say you don’t support ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION but you belong to the political party that does. You say “I’m a democrat, always have been.”. You think one democrat candidate you vote for is going be the one to change the democrat party? Look at what the democrats have done TO America in the last 20 years. Every democrat policy is economic crap on the American people and our families. Grown men in thongs dancing in front of children. That is the democrat party. You RINOS out there too, you’re next. PRESIDENT TRUMP needs to clean out the corrupt democrats from dog catcher on up in every State and every institution of government. Then do the same to the RINOS. Defeat the enemy at the gates and then defeat the enemy within. I’m sick of weak Republicans turning their backs on us. I’m sick of Republicans letting corruption slide. I’m sick of McConnell blackmailing MAGA because he is knee deep in the democrats corruption. RINOS AND DEMOCRATS FU AND YOUR MOMMA TOO. Americans need to grab their balls and start using them. No more go along and get along crap, run over them with a freight train of strength and courage, do what is right and don’t even think about their whining or outrage or the media. Stand up! Don’t back down! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!


18 posted on 11/11/2024 8:50:48 AM PST by Ponyexpress9790 (Every one that votes democrat is your enemy, there is no co-existing with traitors and terrorists. )
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To: BlackbirdSST

LOL- Good one


19 posted on 11/11/2024 8:56:49 AM PST by Bob434
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To: ConservativeWarrior

A thoughtful and cogent response.

My wife did some doom spending - no purse, but flats of vegis, oatmeal and such. As you say, just topping off.

Trump isn’t fully in control until Jan - and a lot of bad sh!t can happen between and now and 3 Jan.


20 posted on 11/11/2024 9:01:00 AM PST by ASOC (This space for rent)
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