Why does everyone feel the need to spend money all the time? Whether it’s clothes, makeup, or toys, it seems as if there’s a new trend every week. Recently, it has been a mixture of Parke sweatshirts and NeeDohs, one which costs upwards of 130 dollars; another which has been out for sixteen years, and is only recently gaining popularity from online traffic.

Now, I can’t say I don’t have a part in this. I, myself, overconsume a fair amount, but it is never to an extent that makes me look back and wonder: how much money have I wasted? And that’s the main issue here.

We used to see it with the rise of “ultra-fast fashion” in the 2010s with companies like SHEIN creating clothes out of cheap materials in order to keep prices low. These online-only brands spearheaded the roughly 85 percent of fabrics that end up in landfills every year. As trends rose throughout the 2000s into the ‘10s and beyond, fast fashion has only kept growing.

Growing internet trends are the number one catalyst for consumerism. In 2025, 32 percent of consumers used social media for researching products. Most people who are overconsuming are doing it for the sake of following trends..

First announced in 2023, the mockneck design of these rather simple-looking Parke sweatshirts has recently become popular. Now, companies like Target, Walmart, and more are copying the mockneck style. Despite the original costing anywhere from 125 to 150 dollars, consumers have been flocking to buy Parke. Many purchase the sweatshirts in multiple different colors or styles, adding to the over consumption aspect. Sales for the company have exploded, rising over 950 percent in the last eighteen months due to the brand’s acclaim online.

Another strong example of over consumption are NeeDohs. The toy, created by Schylling, launched in 2010, has made strides in popularity on TikTok in the last few months. Now, “NeeDoh hunting” is sweeping across the platform due to the fact that customers are purchasing multiples of the popular stress-relieving toy at one time, leading to most stores being completely sold out. Similar to fast fashion, knock-offs of NeeDohs have also popped up at stores like Dollar Tree, for those who might be looking for cheaper alternatives. NeeDoh has already gained over 100,000 orders in their online store in the first couple of months in 2026.

So, now that we are finally getting conscious of just how bad we have gotten as a society about overconsuming, how can we combat it?

Well, to start off, remind yourself that trends are not everything. For something so short-lived that only exists for us to bring up in conversations ten years down the line, looking back and laughing about ever having participated, it’s not worth it to devote time and money toward them. Being true to yourself and what you actually want and/or need should be the first and foremost thing. Then, if you want to “treat” yourself by splurging on a new pair of pants or a Parke sweatshirt, go ahead. As long as you don’t make a habit out of it.