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StitcherIt’s a back-to-school reset! But not the one with matching lunchboxes and over-the-top ‘what’s in my kid’s bag’ trends. Instead of overhauling everything for the kids, Jen and Jill are flipping the script on what a real reset means and breaking down how TikTok is fueling quiet overconsumption and spotlighting what to do to stay grounded, intentional, and spend way less.
We can still embrace the feeling of starting the year fresh when you need it but not to the point of replacing everything new.
Sponsors:
- stretchy book covers. The stuff all the cool kids had to protect their books in psychedelic prints, animal prints, solid colors, pictures of FOOD! And if you want to be a cool kid with a cool protector for your spending and budgeting you should get our spending planner spreadsheet! It’s got everything you need to stay on track with your money throughout the year including monthly budget tabs, an annual overview, opportunity cost calculators, and more! Plus it’s beautiful! And your mom can’t tell you you can’t afford it.
How the Rise in Back-to-School Sales Spending is Normalized
Not only has back-to-school shopping increased by over 30% but TikTok influencers are trying to convince you to add to your cart all the extra stuff. Jen and Jill highlighted this through two TikTok posts showing obvious extreme examples.
But it’s not the posts themselves that are alarming, it’s how subtly we’ve been influenced into consuming more each year. It happens so gradually that it doesn’t even feel harmful. Little did we know, overconsumption is becoming so normalized that we now feel a subtle pressure to give our kids things they don’t even need.
How to Deinfluencing BACK TO SCHOOL Sales
Jen reminds us that thrifts, secondhand finds, and swaps are always great options if you’re looking for something “new” for the kids. Meanwhile, Jill points to a TikTok where a creator explains that buying for a grade you haven’t experienced yet often leads to regret—so it’s better to start with what worked last year and build from there.
They also suggest prioritizing what’s on the teacher’s list (because you know it’ll actually be used). But case in point, they believe that it’s okay to let your kid pick out something new but just not everything new.
Best school memory
Back in college, Jen remembers staying up all night with her classmates while they made a float for homecoming, she didn’t actually help, she just hung out the whole time.
Meanwhile, Jill fondly remembers how her teacher used to read to the class while they colored grids.
Bill of The Week
Thank you Cassie for sharing your bill about purchasing a fancy lunch at a work event – BUT lunch was free AND took home extras!
Thanks so Much for Listening!
Thanks so much for listening. We love love love reading your kind reviews of our book Buy What You Love Without Going Broke and we especially loved this one from:
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Money, shopping and emotions
Love this book. It's a practical way to understand on why you spend the way you spend. We think we do the quick fixes just for convenience, but after reading this, I set myself up for the last min shopping or emotional shopping online. It helped me figure out what the intent was and helped me make better spending habits that my whole family was shocked to see as I'm a reformed shopaholic. If you love shopping and are trying you best to stay on budget. This is the book to read. It also taught me it's okay to buy something that is useful or beautiful when I'm at a better financial place.
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