doom spending

Meaning

'Doom spending' refers to the habit of spending money on luxury items, travel, or unnecessary goods to cope with feelings of hopelessness about the future or the economy. It is a psychological response where people think, 'I'll never buy a house anyway, so I might as well enjoy my money now.'

Examples

• Instead of saving for a down payment on a house, many young adults are turning to doom spending.

  Instead of saving for a down payment on a house, many young adults are turning to doom spending.

• I was feeling so anxious about the economy last night that I did some online doom spending.

  I was feeling so anxious about the economy last night that I did some online doom spending.

• Buying that designer bag was pure doom spending because I was stressed about my job security.

  Buying that designer bag was pure doom spending because I was stressed about my job security.

• Doom spending might bring temporary happiness, but it can harm your long-term financial health.

  Doom spending might bring temporary happiness, but it can harm your long-term financial health.

• She admitted that her expensive vacation was a result of doom spending during a stressful month.

  She admitted that her expensive vacation was a result of doom spending during a stressful month.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I went doom spending to buy groceries for the week.

  ✓ I went grocery shopping for the week.

  'Doom spending' specifically refers to buying non-essential, luxury, or comforting items to cope with anxiety. Buying basic necessities like food does not count.

• ✗ He is doom spending because he is very rich and has too much money.

  ✓ He is doom spending because he feels hopeless about his economic future.

  'Doom spending' is driven by stress, anxiety, or a sense of 'doom' about the future, not simply because someone has an abundance of wealth.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Many people cope with high inflation by ___ on expensive dinners and trips.

  💡 Spending money on luxuries because you feel hopeless about the future.

  Show answer

  doom spending

• Her recent shopping spree was a classic case of ___.

  💡 Purchasing non-essentials to cope with economic anxiety.

  Show answer

  doom spending