Chips Are For Rich People
Resetting the Standard: Social Media, Consumerism, and Biblical Stewardship
There’s a quiet epidemic happening in our generation—one that rarely gets called out because it’s masked as ambition, self-expression, or “treating yourself.”
It’s the compulsive need to consume.
We spend money on things we don’t need, to fix emotions we haven’t named, all while trying to keep up with people we don’t even know. And for many of us—including myself—it’s become a lifestyle. One that feels normal because it's so deeply ingrained in our culture.
But “normal” doesn’t always mean right. And lately, I’ve felt the conviction to change.
This post is not about shame. It’s about awareness, accountability, and realignment with God’s design for how we manage what we’ve been given.
Where This All Started for Me
I grew up poor. Not the “we couldn’t afford cable” kind of poor—I’m talking food stamps and watching my mom file for bankruptcy. Money wasn’t just tight—it was a constant source of stress, shame, and instability. I learned early on that when you get a little money, you spend it quick—because you don’t know when more is coming.
So when I started making my own money as an adult, I told myself I’d never feel that kind of lack again. I swore I’d enjoy what I earned and never live like that.
And I did.
And I do.
But the way I’ve been spending? It’s not security. It’s not freedom. It’s just another form of survival—dressed up as lifestyle.
And it’s not the legacy I want to pass down.
I want to break this cycle.
I don’t want to live paycheck to paycheck with a decent salary.
I don’t want to spend to feel worthy.
I want to live with purpose, margin, and peace—and I want to manage money in a way that honors God, not just gratifies my emotions.
The Culture of Consumption
We live in a world that thrives on our discontentment. The moment you feel content, social media will find a way to convince you you’re behind.
Everything is curated:
Here’s what I bought this week
These are the top 10 Amazon finds you NEED
This product changed my life
If you don’t have this in your kitchen/bathroom/routine, are you even trying?
We’re no longer buying things we need. We’re buying to keep up—with trends, aesthetics, and personas. And it’s exhausting.
Romans 12:2 says,
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
The pattern of this world is consumption, accumulation, and image. But the transformed mind seeks wisdom, contentment, and peace.
That’s what I’m after. I’m not trying to be trendy. I’m trying to be free.
The Spiritual Side of Spending
At first, I didn’t see spending as a spiritual issue. But it is—because it reveals what I rely on.
When I’m stressed, do I pray… or do I buy something?
When I’m lonely, do I open my Bible… or open my phone?
When I’m overwhelmed, do I seek comfort in God… or Amazon?
Matthew 6:21
“Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
My bank statements didn’t reflect someone pursuing peace. They reflected someone trying to avoid discomfort. And in the process, I was recreating the same unstable patterns I watched growing up—just in prettier packaging.
Emotional Spending: The Root Behind the Swipe
Here’s what I’ve noticed in myself:
1. Stress & Boredom
Impulse spending became my outlet. Retail therapy, online carts, delivery orders—I’d tell myself I deserved it. But what I actually needed was rest and quiet.
1 Peter 5:7
“Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”
I’ve cast it on clearance racks instead.
2. Image Management
I bought things to look like I had it together. I gave gifts to be liked. I wore certain brands to look “successful.” It wasn’t materialism—it was insecurity.
Galatians 1:10
“Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God?”
3. Lack of Boundaries
I didn’t learn budgeting. I didn’t grow up seeing emergency funds or savings accounts. I saw a cycle of scarcity and splurging. And without structure, I repeated that pattern.
Hebrews 12:11
“No discipline seems pleasant at the time… but later it yields a harvest of righteousness and peace.”
That’s the harvest I want. Not just wealth—but peace.
What the Bible Says About Money
God talks about money because it’s a mirror to the heart. It’s not about how much you have—it’s about how you handle what you’re given.
Proverbs 21:20
“The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down.”
Translation: wisdom plans ahead. Foolishness spends everything.
1 Corinthians 4:2
“It is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.”
Money is not ours to waste—it’s God’s to steward.
My Reset Plan
I’m not doing this for aesthetics or trend. I’m doing this to be different. To choose obedience over impulse. To make new patterns for the next generation.
1. Decluttering
I’m clearing out what I don’t need. Not to become a minimalist, but to become aware. I want to see what I have before I go looking for more.
2. Tracking Every Dollar
Every purchase. Every reason. I need to know where my money is going, and more importantly—why.
3. Setting Boundaries
No shopping apps
No Amazon Prime
No unnecessary spending
No Target “browsing”
No buying new books until I finish the ones I own
4. Choosing Stillness Over Stimulation
I’m replacing scrolling with rest, prayer, reading, moving my body, being outside. Things that nourish instead of numb.
5. Practicing Gratitude
Every time I want something new, I stop and thank God for what I already have. Gratitude slows the spin.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Breaking the Cycle
I grew up watching what it looks like to fear money, mismanage money, and lose control of money.
I’ve lived enough life to know that the next purchase won’t heal me.
And I’ve read enough Scripture to know that freedom isn’t found in owning more—it’s found in surrendering more.
This isn’t just about spending less. It’s about living different.
Not conforming.
Not performing.
Just being faithful with what I’ve been given—and trusting that it’s enough.
1 Timothy 6:6
“But godliness with contentment is great gain.”
That’s the gain I want. And that’s the cycle I intend to break.
