Could Trends + Social Media Be The New Economic Indicators?

While many felt that 2020 was going to be the reset that we would see in many industries, including the economy (even me), I feel now looking back that it was an assist to what we are seeing happen now when it comes to not only how people handle their money but also how people talk about it. The recession talk was loud, but now it's becoming a new language than what we anticipate what a recession would look like. It wasn’t declared last year, but a lot of people who went and are still going through their personal recession - many don’t get that part. One of the things that I’ve said since the pandemic was that how we measure one recession to another would be more like cliff notes vs Copy+Paste.?

In one of my New Year posts, I talked about shifting how I build an online curriculum with content about the trifecta of personal finance, economy, and finance (in general) as going back to the basics. Many people want to become “millionaires” in their own right but need to learn their means or even know what those means are. Yes, you can know that you need to save for an emergency, but you need to know where you can save. What led me to talk about other economic indicators (like I talked about with one of my good friends, Ariel Serber , a couple of months back), is that could we have new indicators that need to make sense to the people who need to make sense of their budgets, wallets and how much life costs? I think it’s time. Yes, the CPI or Consumer Price Index needs to be easy for you to understand, but you also need to know why these “trends” are not only in social media but on the news.?

In this latest write-up of the New Year, I want to show how social media, trends, and challenges (and an influx of them) show that people not only know something is broken with the economy but want to make sure that they get their financial houses in order.?

Viral Moments Show [Some] Value

Over the last couple of years, we’ve seen viral moments that highlight how swipers see the value in their wallets. From Girl Math showing how people find ways to make math, math to current “loud budgeting” just letting your friend group and family know that you don’t have it - people are getting on their Zoom with not only talking about money but taking it to Kindergarten and showing, too. But could be what’s trending on social media, has already been trending within consumerism over the years? Making ends meet isn’t new for some hues or classes, but it’s refreshing to see them being talked about in the group chat on social media.?

When I spoke about Girl Math to Business Leader , one of the things I drove home like a 4-speed was,? “The notion of girlmath has shown how consumers make sense of their money management and personal finance.” And the same rings true when it comes to “Loud Budgeting” . This trend is that it flips the script on traditional budgeting, focusing on openly and deliberately allocating your money towards values and experiences that truly matter to you. While some can see that it’s a dig at a quiet luxury or experience, I can see it as that you found this deal on this trip and it saved you this and you can use that savings to do something else. It’s showing the class your budget and spending to only show what you’re going to do differently. As someone who (gasps) likes lux for less, I see the balance of this trend changing how we see the balance of our relationship with money and how we handle the money we have.

I talked about this in a tweet at the top of the year:?

If you want to make Loud Budgeting work, here’s how to work it:?

• Prioritize: It's about understanding what brings you joy and fulfillment and dedicating resources to those priorities (travel, hobbies, personal growth, etc.).
• Intentionality: Every spending decision carries weight. You consciously choose where your money goes, aligning it with your values and long-term goals.
• Transparency: Openly discuss your financial choices with friends, family, and online communities. This can normalize conversations about money, break free from judgment, and inspire others.
• Anti-Consumerism: Reject the pressure to buy things for status or trends. Focus on experiences and investments that enrich your life, not your Instagram feed.

Doesn’t that sound familiar? Everyone was thinking that it would be a stimulus check to shift the financial narrative (well it does for UBI), but showed people how much money they need to live comfortably. Also, you can have more with less. What these trends show us is that yes you can get your FIRE number, but you can live the life you want now with the money you have. If you aren't close, you're on your way.?

But all of these trends keep going like that meeting notes of a meeting that could’ve been an email.?

Money Challenges = Change Your Experience With Money?

Even before I got into talking about personal finance and money, we have found ways to challenge our spending and saving to do better. While some can see the word “challenge” as something that can be hard but also harden you to complete it, both can be true. But since the pandemic, the influx of “No Spend/Low Spend” Challenges/Experiences has become a major way that people have not only tracked their financial traction but also fine-tuned their money management. I talked about it in my blog post , but it helped me understand not only how I spent my money making $10.71/per hour but still impacts how I spend it now.?

• No-Spend: Go full throttle and eliminate all non-essentials for a set period.
• Low-Spend: Set a realistic weekly or monthly budget cap for non-essentials.

While I find myself doing more “Low Spend” than “No Spend”, both have their advantages. More consumers doing these types of challenges are showing that they want to change their dance with the dollar. It becomes of ease but those trying not to step on eggshells. What challenges can change you and your view, which these happen to do? Some would see this as frugal, but it’s legit people don’t want to just give a dollar a job but understand the job description of their money + life.?

Brands Are Reading The [Financial] Room -?

I know that everyone is talking about the Netflix Movie, “Leave The World Behind”, and how real it is - another thing that I’m noticing as a marketer is how brands are getting real with what’s going on within their consumers. From seeing how earnings calls express how consumers aren’t spending or ‘got it’ to content like what I saw from Coinbase, brands know spending is shifting. That luxury, overconsumption, and life math isn’t what it used to be. The RESET of it all is being pushed by the “too much” of it all and how it impacts not only the value within consumers’ wallets but also their mental wellness. ?Even folks are over the buying of not only Stanley cups but also dupes - the scroll economy is interesting now.

The Coinbase commercial (it’s a couple of them ) showed how we were told to get good grades, go to college, get a job, buy a house and you would accomplish the American Dream. But like I called out here, the American Drea is outpriced and many can’t afford it. Even though that was a marketing campaign that is now outdated, Coinbased brought it into not only what they are built within the crypto space but also how spaced out the economy is currently (and moving forward).?

The Reset Is Televised And Scrollable

This long email or text message (whichever is your preference) was to show you that the way that the Federal Reserve views indicators, the people need their own and have found it. Let’s not forget the other economic indicators like Alcohol, Lips, and more that have given us a heads up. While the media is talking in one direction, social media is having its own CPI report via these new indicators.?

What are some ways that you measure what’s going on in the economy and how does it impact your own personal economy (your wallet)?