The world is on fire but hey I have matcha: How little treats are helping us deal with uncertainty

Headstart On Record Podcast

Labubus, blind boxes, bubble tea. Why do we keep buying things we don’t need?

Published Oct 26, 2026, 10:00 AM

Updated Oct 26, 2026, 10:00 AM

In this episode, Kai Wen and Sue-Ann discuss why people buy trendy but “useless” things as a way to treat themselves.

Is there a limit to how much a person can spend before it becomes indulgent? Find out about the “little treat” economy, and why people sometimes shift their spending toward small luxuries when bigger purchases start feeling out of reach.

Highlights (click/tap above):

0:00 Introduction to treating yourself and small joys

4:37 “Little treats” vs major life milestones

9:30 Doom spending, instant gratification, and the “little treat” economy

15:10 Balancing present enjoyment with long-term financial security

19:12 Underconsumption core vs collecting and hoarding

23:20 Practical budgeting strategies

Follow See Kai Wen on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/qfwqQ

Follow Sue-Ann Tan on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/A86X

Read Sue-Ann Tan’s articles: https://str.sg/mvSa

Hosts: See Kai Wen ( seekw@sph.com.sg ) and Sue-Ann Tan ( suetan@sph.com.sg )

Produced & edited by: Amirul Karim and Yang Jiesan Cruz

Executive producer: Elizabeth Law

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Headstart On Record播客

乐宝、盲盒、珍珠奶茶。为什么我们总是买自己不需要的东西？

发布于2026年10月26日上午10:00

更新于2026年10月26日上午10:00

在这一集中，凯文和苏安讨论了人们为什么会购买时髦但“无用”的东西来犒劳自己。

一个人的消费能力是否存在极限，超过这个极限就可能变成过度消费？了解一下“小确幸”经济，以及为什么当大额消费超出预算时，人们有时会将消费转向小奢侈品。

亮点（点击/轻触上方）：

0:00 自我犒劳和生活中的小确幸介绍

4:37 “小惊喜”与人生重大里程碑

9:30 末日消费、即时满足和“小奖励”经济

15:10 平衡当下享受与长期财务安全

19:12 消费不足核心与收藏和囤积

23:20 实用预算策略

在领英上关注 See Kai Wen：https://str.sg/qfwqQ

在领英上关注 Sue-Ann Tan：https://str.sg/A86X

阅读 Sue-Ann Tan 的文章：https://str.sg/mvSa

主持人：See Kai Wen ( seekw@sph.com.sg ) 和 Sue-Ann Tan ( suetan@sph.com.sg )

制作和编辑：Amirul Karim 和 Yang Jiesan Cruz

执行制片人：伊丽莎白·劳

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