Having lived in Millbrae all my life, I’ve gotten a chance to silently observe the actions of my peers, most notably their spending habits. Surrounded by the constant flaunting of shopping hauls, concert outings, and unnecessary purchases, I’ve grown accustomed to showing my disapproval of these things. The issue isn’t about deciding what snacks to buy at Trader Joe’s, but rather picking what $300 concert to attend. Are we actually collecting memories, or just receipts?
Millbrae is a city that leans towards the wealthier side in regards to the financial income of residents. Being part of San Mateo County, which is one of the most expensive counties in California, the average cost of housing in Millbrae is a whopping $1.9 million dollars. People in Millbrae are generally well off. While I’m not implying that all adolescents residing in Millbrae have an issue with overconsumption, there are some who take advantage of their parents’ financial stability.
Privilege is not inherently bad, but when it comes to taking advantage of their privilege it becomes rotten. Some teenagers have the mindset that because they live a financially stable life, it is fine for them to blindly splurge on their wants.
One thing I’ve noticed recently is the amount of concerts my peers have been attending. While it would be hypocritical of me to call people out as I’ve attended my fair share of concerts, there are definitely a few that have at least three upcoming concerts stacked on their Ticketmaster pages. While I’m all for supporting your favorite artists and enjoying a night of listening to the music you love, the increase of ticket prices especially for big-names has been concerning. Is it really necessary to attend every single concert?
Spending a couple thousand dollars to energetically sing along with your favorite artists may not be harmful, but if you’re doing it constantly, it could definitely rack up to more than a several thousand dollars per year. This type of money is not pocket change and I believe they don’t respect the significance of money.
Another example I’ve observed is people dropping hundreds of dollars every time they go out shopping. In the current state of our economy, unfortunately necessities like clothing have become extremely expensive. There is nothing wrong with purchasing extra clothing if you grow out of your old ones or want to boost your personal self esteem, but it comes to a point where your closet contains more than it can hold. Popular brands like Brandy Melville have taken advantage of teenagers and young adults with their “trendy” and “deceptively cheap” clothing, when in reality this mindset has caused them to splurge every time they walk in. Other causes including fast fashion have trapped teenagers with the same trend of cheap and appealing clothing. Overconsumption doesn’t end with just clothes. It shows up in purchasing excessive amounts of food and wasting it, CDs and vinyls, and blind boxes just for the anticipation of surprise.
Ever since I was young, I was taught to check the price or wait until it’s on sale before I decide to purchase something. Some of my peers don’t even bat an eye when looking at the price tag, and simply care about the looks or whether it is in style. These instances show that students are overindulging their desires, using money to satisfy impulse. This causes financial irresponsibility and unhealthy spending habits.
On a broader level, students in Millbrae are not the only ones corrupted by overconsumption. Social media has influenced the way young people from all around the world perceive items which can persuade them to buy unnecessary things. In order to discourage overconsumption I believe that it starts from changing attitudes and becoming more mature when it comes to making purchases.
The money parents give takes hard work to get back, and for people who use personal earnings, there are better ways to manage. Overconsumption endangers more than just bank accounts, it affects you as a person, your values, and even the environment. Responsibly spending is a better way to approach this. Control how you use the money you earn or get.
Instead of attending every single concert in your area, choose to go when your favorite artist comes or simply stream online. Wait for sales or discount events such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday to purchase the shirt you’ve been eyeing.
Limiting your spending doesn’t mean stopping yourself. It means reflecting on your decisions and acting with integrity. As the saying goes, “Money can’t buy happiness.”
