Are You Spending Your Money Wisely? Let's Check It Out Here!

An article by: Aishvara Michelle.

What did you do today? Have you checked social media? How much time did you spend on  social media? How many items did you purchase from social media? Every day, we use our  phones. Within our phones are various applications that enhance our lives, including social  media. Social media creates certain standards of living that encourage consumerist behavior,  both consciously and unconsciously (Yanuar et al., 2013). Social media serves as a tool that  reinforces consumerist culture by fostering the perception that self-worth is determined by the  possessions one owns. Horkheimer’s theory states that capitalism creates false needs through  the media, where consumers are encouraged to desire things they actually do not need (Fuchs,  2019). According to Max Horkheimer's thinking, modern media plays a significant role in  disseminating capitalist ideology that promotes excessive consumption as a socially desired value. 

The existing consumerist habits are more about fulfilling desires than needs. The funds  available are not allocated according to their intended purposes, such as for transactions,  investments, or emergency funds. The money is only used to fulfill desires, particularly driven  by trends like YOLO and FOMO. If these trends are followed without awareness, they may  lead to the use of external financial sources such as Paylater, online loans, or even online  gambling. (Fahmi Fahriza, 2025) To satisfy endless desires, one shortcut that can be used to  fulfill one's desires is to use online loan credit applications. Through the Buy Now Pay Later  (BNPL) service, it provides ease of access and further fuels consumerist behavior. Especially  through smartphones, which tend to encourage the purchase of items that merely satisfy desires  and are not truly necessary. If such negative behavior continues, it will lead to a high  accumulation of debt. (Hikmawan Firdaus, 2025) 

This is where the importance of financial education from an early age comes in. Whether it's  from educational institutions, the media, or the family environment. Digital technology may be  advancing, but understanding financial responsibility must also evolve. A cashless lifestyle has  become part of our lives. You no longer need to carry a wallet full of cash; a single touch on  your phone screen is enough. However, behind that one “QR scan” lies a financial decision that needs to be understood. Convenience is indeed enjoyable, but being mindful in using  technology is far more important. Because ultimately, technology is a tool—not the direction.  And the direction is still determined by our own choices. (Ike Nurmala Sari, 2025). Financial  literacy plays a crucial role in personal financial management. A good understanding of  financial literacy can help individuals make wise financial decisions. However, low financial  literacy tends to make people more vulnerable to impulsive spending. Financial literacy has a  significant influence on spending behavior. In other words, the better someone's financial  literacy, the more cautious they are in their spending. (Siti Wirdatus Sholihah, 2024) 

In addition, there is also a deinfluencing movement initiated by content creators and frugal  communities. This deinfluencing movement is becoming increasingly popular on platforms  such as TikTok and Instagram, where content creators use the hashtag #deinfluencing to review  products that are considered ineffective or excessive. They encourage their audience to think  twice before buying expensive items that may only be driven by trends. (Hendra, 2025) With  a minimalist lifestyle, you spend more of your money on important and high-quality items.  You don’t focus on buying things constantly. You only need to focus on self-worth and  spending time with loved ones. Sometimes, adopting a minimalist lifestyle can bring peace of  mind because you’re not swayed by trends, and the bonus is that your money stays safely in  your hands. Being mindful about spending money is akin to having good self-control. This  allows you to live a good and happy life. 

REFERENCES 

Wira Krida, G., & Seran, A. (2025). Budaya Konsumtif di Media Sosial Tiktok: Pendekatan  Kritis terhadap Pengaruh Kapitalisme pada Generasi Muda di Indonesia. Jurnal Global Ilmiah,  2(5). https://jgi.internationaljournallabs.com/index.php/jiFERENSI 

Fahmi Fahriza. (2025, January 25). Generasi Muda Semakin Konsumtif Karena Erat Dengan  Fenomena YOLO dan FOMO. 

Hikmawan Firdaus, R. P. R. (2025, February 16). Antara Hasrat dan Kebutuhan: Efek BNPL  dan Sikap Konsumtif Geneerasi Muda.

Ike Nurmala Sari. (2025, June 5). Gaya Hidup Konsumtif Gen Z di Tengah Arus Pembayaran  Digital . Ike Nurmala Sari. (2025, June 5). Gaya Hidup Konsumtif Gen Z di Tengah Arus  Pembayaran Digital. 

Siti Wirdatus Sholihah. (2024, July 30). Literasi Keuangan dan Perilaku Konsumtif Gen Z di  Kota Surabaya. 

Hendra. (2025, February 3). Gen Z dan Tren Deinfluencing: Melawan Budaya Konsumtif demi  Keuangan yang Sehat.