The Psychology of your 20s 357. Why do we doomspend?
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Nov 25, 2025 Doom spending is explored as a coping mechanism for uncertainty. Emotional triggers like fear and dopamine create impulsive buying habits. The impact of the pandemic and social media fuels this behavior, turning little treats into a cultural norm. Signs of problematic spending patterns are discussed, such as late-night splurges and financial avoidance. Strategies to combat doom spending include mindful habits, prioritizing experiences over material goods, and creating future-oriented goals. Understanding the desire for control reveals deeper emotional insights.
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Spending As Emotional Regulation
- Doom spending is using impulsive purchases to soothe anxiety about an uncertain future.
- It functions as emotional regulation rather than deliberate materialism.
Dopamine Fuels The Buying Loop
- Anticipation, checkout and delivery each trigger dopamine that reinforces buying behaviour.
- Repeated reinforcement makes spending an easy go-to for mood improvement.
Buying And Returning For Dopamine
- Jemma recalls being broke during the pandemic and repeatedly buying and returning items for the dopamine hit.
- She bought duplicate jackets and returned them, illustrating how online shopping became emotional coping.