Overconsumption Traps: Doom Spending and the 'Spaving' Illusion

In the hyper consumer world we live in, we’re made to believe that buying more is a sign of success, that a bigger cart means a better life. Although, behind every extra purchase, more stuff doesn’t mean more wealth; it just means more and more waste. Overconsumption is frequently disguised as an upgrade. A new gadget, a fresh outfit, a limited-time deal all seem harmless in isolation. But when multiplied across billions of people, this constant craving for "new" becomes one of the most destructive habits of our time. The unsustainable spending culture of buying things we don’t truly need or won’t even use is financially damaging and  planet’s resources. 

According to a UNICEF report, some of the wealthiest countries are among the worst offenders:

- Overconsumption in the richest countries is actively harming children’s environments across the globe.

- These nations offer cleaner spaces within their borders, but their consumption levels are causing environmental destruction elsewhere.

- If everyone on Earth consumed like people in the European Union, we’d need 3.3 Earths. If we all consumed like the average person in Canada, Luxembourg, or the U.S., we’d need 5 Earths just to sustain the demand.

The Doom Spending - Epidemic of Overconsumption

Ever heard of doom spending? It’s a rising trend where people impulsively buy things to cope with stress and other feelings. Often, they end up with items they didn’t need or sometimes couldn’t really afford. Gen Z, in particular, is becoming the first generation that’s expected to be poorer than their parents, and unchecked consumer habits are part of the reason. What’s sold as a quick dopamine hit ends up becoming a long-term financial and psychological burden and an environmental one too.

Spaving - The Trap of False Saving

Then there’s spaving, a portmanteau of spending and saving, where people buy things just to feel like they’re saving money. The free shipping if you buy one more item or get 50% off if you buy two. These incentives manipulate us into spending more under the illusion of saving. The items weren’t on your list. You didn’t need them. But you bought them anyway and the cycle continues.

Rebekka Roe, with a university background in management accounting, finance, and taxation, offers a multifaceted perspective on how "overconsumption is keeping you poor." In the video, she also explains how influencer hauls and excessive shopping distort the perception of quantity, making the concept of 'responsible spending' unclear. When people seek to own more items, there is an easy switch to fast fashion because it is affordable, readily available, and quick to purchase.

However, when something is unrealistically cheap, produced quickly, and available in hundreds or thousands of units, it usually means it is being sold as fast as it is made and worn out even faster. Such products are often of poor quality, and the workers who made them are likely not receiving fair wages.

Why Secondhand and Upcycling Are Truly Rich

Thrifted and upcycled items are, in reality, much richer choices. They are habits that make you more conscious, responsible, and creative. Upcycling breathes new life into what already exists and thrifting extends the journey of an item. These are smart choices that create a circular, sustainable loop unlike the common misconception that buying two items for ₹500 is a smart deal.

The real upgrade is choosing less but better, recognizing that overflowing carts do not define you, and making purposeful decisions that benefit both you and the world we share.