It's reigning queens
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Business Standard
7 hours ago
- Business Standard
Gen Z embraces 'little treats' trend despite risks of overspending
Kailyn Rhone The last thing Naomi Barrales needed was a 30-minute train delay. She had a two-hour commute home to central New Jersey ahead of her. To kill time, she decided to treat herself to two vegan birthday cake cookies. It became a ritual. Whenever Barrales, a 25-year-old marketing associate for a fashion label, had a good day at work, like receiving a compliment from her boss or nailing a presentation, she treated herself to the same cookies. Later, she added a $1.50 Poppi drink to her list of sweet treats. Even if the office vending machine was out of Poppi and the local deli charged double, she didn't mind, she said, as she deserved it. 'It's something that I can just have and not think about,' Barrales said. 'I don't have to pinch my pennies.' She and many others in Generation Z have embraced 'treat culture,' the habit of indulging in small luxuries, like a $12 jumbo-size coffee, a $5 baked dessert or a $30 key-ring doll called the Labubu, to reward themselves or practice self-care, even if the treats are outside their budgets. Although many Gen Z-ers do not feel financially secure, more than half say they buy themselves a small treat at least once a week, according to a new survey of nearly 1,000 Gen Z adults from Bank of America's Better Money Habits team. The concept of using treats to cope or celebrate gained pop culture traction in 2011 with a television episode of 'Parks and Recreation' in which characters celebrated a day of pampering with the motto 'Treat Yo Self.' What sets Gen Z-ers apart from generations before them is how they have built an online community around the tradition, promoting it on their social feeds as a way to care for their mental health during uncertain times. On TikTok, they have shared their latest 'little treat' hauls after failing an exam or doing chores, or just to show off conspicuous consumption. With rising costs, a shaky job market and financial milestones feeling out of reach for many young adults, small purchases offer Gen Z a temporary sense of control or indulgence, Dorsey said. 'If I finished my own schooling and wasn't getting anywhere in the work force, I would bring myself out for a treat as well,' said Gregory Stoller, a professor at Boston University's Questrom School of Business. But while these treats can offer quick hits of joy, they also could lead to overspending if budgets are not properly managed. After about a month of treating herself three times a week, Barrales, the marketing associate, noticed her checking account was around $50 lower than usual. It was enough to ring alarm bells for her. 'At first, it was harmless... But it compounds, and that's when it starts eating into my finances,' she said. Holly O'Neill, president of consumer, retail and preferred at Bank of America, recommends that anyone participating in treat culture consider setting a realistic budget or finding more sustainable alternatives, like borrowing a book from a library, so it doesn't become impulsive or lead to overspending.
India Today
14 hours ago
- India Today
It's reigning queens
It was billed as a clash of generations, two queens contending for the same crown: on one end, Koneru Humpy, 38, the experienced, stoic millennial who has been India's top female chess player for two decades; seated across her, the spirited 19-year-old Divya Deshmukh, a Gen Z-er who wasn't even born when Humpy became India's first female grandmaster in 2002.
Time of India
18 hours ago
- Time of India
Banksying is the latest ghosting-inspired trend in dating
From breadcrumbing to benching, Gen Z's dating life now comes with its own dictionary. The latest entry is Banksying — a trend that adds a dramatic twist to disappearing from a relationship What is Banksying Ghosting has long been part of the dating world, but it's slowly being pushed aside by a new trend known as Banksying. In this version, the person doesn't just vanish quietly — they leave with a dramatic twist. It could be a surprise message, a meaningful object, or even an emotional post. And then, just like that, they're gone. No follow-up, no explanation. It's ghosting, but with a showy goodbye. Inspired by the street artist Banksy Inspired by the elusive street artist Banksy, Banksying describes the act of suddenly disappearing from someone's life, often a romantic partner's, without any warning. Much like how Banksy's artworks appear overnight and vanish just as quickly, this trend adds a dramatic flair to the usual term gained popularity online as people noticed similarities between sudden relationship exits and the way Banksy quietly disappears without a trace. Dodging emotional responsibility Amy Chan, a dating coach was quotes in news reports stating that Banskying has been happening for a while − it just has a trendy name now. 'Banksying happens more now, especially with the proliferation of dating apps, where people have developed poor dating etiquette,' Chan says, adding, 'The person withdrawing gets the ability to process the breakup on their own terms, before they hand the memo to the other person, who ends up being in total shock. .. It shows a lack of emotional maturity and a way of dealing with conflict that is rooted in avoidance.' Aanchal Gupta Kalantri, a relationship expert, explains, 'When you Banksy someone, you show complete disregard for their feelings, their emotions, and how they view the relationship in that moment. It means you've taken your own time to move on, and then you suddenly leave them blindsided, with no thought for how such an abrupt exit might affect them.' She adds, "Silently moving on and then vanishing without warning is unfair. Clear communication is essential. Ending a relationship should involve honesty and respect, giving the other person the dignity of a proper conversation and explanation."
