Things That Aren't Normal That Seem Normal On Social Media

Social media has completely distorted our perspective on what is normal and what isn't. And so as a person who talks about money a lot on this app, I'm going to share things that we have normalized on social media that are actually literally not normal for American families. Number one, and no particular order, big family vacations every single year. Growing up, my family's vacation was just like, driving on a road trip to go visit family in Georgia or Connecticut. We weren't going to resorts in Mexico and these beautiful trips to Florida. Like that was just not our family vacation. And when you see creators on this app who are going on vacation every single holiday break and every winter break and in the summer, like that is just not normal for most families. This one is actually really specific, but buying your kid a new backpack every single school year is not normal. That is something that social media has like tricked us when we see these influencers who are doing these back to school shopping and they always have like a fancy or pottery barn or state bag, custom book bag for their kids. Like I've bought these book bags, my company makes book bags, they're built to last. It's not normal to buy a new $100 backpack every single year for your kids. Another super random one is electrolyte drinks. These things like weren't around, like they weren't popular, popularized until recently. And unless you were like working out super hard and sweating a ton or like running a marathon, you don't need to be putting liquid IV or any other supplement into your water to like get your electrolytes in. You just need to be eating a balanced meal. This is just something that's being sold to you for $10 a little box. Also, this one is for women, but multiple makeup products of the same item. Like multiple different concealers from different brands, multiple different blushes, multiple different mascaras. Like most people, myself included, still now to this day, I just have what I need. I can't convince me anyone who has all of this makeup is just not overconsuming because you can't go through it that quickly. I've had the same Fenty bronzer for like three years and it's still not hitting pan because you just don't go through makeup products that quickly. For things like mascara and stuff, you're gonna change that out more regularly, but I'm using a drugstore mascara. This one also drives me crazy, but reusable water bottles. Reusable water bottles are meant to be reused. I don't know why people have like 25 different reusable water bottles. I have two and my kids each have two. Like that is it. You don't need like 20 different reusable water bottles. At that point, I feel like it's just defeating the purpose. Okay, but this is honestly kind of me just being a hater. Do what you want to do and let me know if you want me to make a part two because I can talk about this stuff forever.