Pandemic vices are putting more consumers in debt: 'It's 100% instant gratification'
Consumers had spent an average of $950 each on vices like cigarettes, alcohol and adult entertainment
Coronavirus-induced stress has accelerated consumer spending on pandemic vices.
Alcohol, cigarettes, adult entertainment and lottery tickets are just some of the items 70% of Americans are splurging on during the pandemic, a new survey from financial services company MagnifyMoney suggests.
Adult spending on pandemic vices like smoking and drinking continues to rise. (iStock)
The survey polled 1,550 Americans between Jan. 8 and Jan. 11, almost a full year since the virus became widespread in the U.S., and found that consumers had spent nearly $950 each on their vices since the start of the pandemic. And 38% of those said they used money from their savings to cover the not-so-cheap thrills, posing potentially pricey long-term financial consequences.
Consumers who struggled the most during the pandemic have been saddled with debt as a result of their spending, including: 33% who were laid off or furloughed; 26% of millennials; and 21% of GenZers. And 17% of all respondents went into debt for a vice within the past year.
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Michael Salogub., 29, who lives in Westchester, N.Y., can relate. He admits spending more than $1,000 on his iced coffee habit (despite having a coffee machine at home), adding that he's gone on a few too many Amazon spending sprees for “unnecessary gadgets.”
“It’s 100% instant gratification,” Salogub told Fox Business, admitting he should rein in the habits after buying a home during the pandemic. “You can’t go to the store, so it gets the endorphins pumping once you see the ‘package is 10 blocks away’ [in a tracking email]. It’s nice to get something to look forward to that’s not canceled or rescheduled because of COVID,” he added.
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He's certainly not alone. A number of studies have shown that increased stress can lead to an uptick in impulse consumer spending on tangible items and fleeting experiences. A separate report from CreditKarama.com found that 52% of Americans have impulsively shopped to deal with feelings of stress, anxiety or depression — all of which are on the rise as a result of isolation, job loss, and grief brought on by the pandemic.
What's more, unemployment and furloughs during the pandemic have also led to increased spending with 28% of those surveyed who were either laid off or furloughed admitting to spending more money on adult entertainment specifically, the survey found.
Still, many are grappling with buyer’s remorse as a result. Indeed, 45% of those who spent money on vices in 2020 said they feel guilty about it, according to the MagnifyMoney survey.