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The Average Adult in the USA Spends

The Average Adult in the USA Spends

Part of a series on "Millennials Are Killing...". [View Related Entries]

Updated May 09, 2019 at 02:17PM EDT by Matt.

Added May 09, 2019 at 01:46PM EDT by Matt.

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About

The Average Adult in the USA Spends refers to a much-mocked and discussed tweet by the news organization USA Today that criticizes the finances of American adults.

Origin

On May 7th, 2019, USA Today tweeted,[1] "The average adult in the USA spends $1,497 a month on nonessential items. All told, that's roughly $18,000 a year on things we can all do without." In addition, the news outlet posted a graphic chart about these "nonessential" expenditures, which includes "buying lunch," "personal grooming" and clothing. The tweet became the subject of a Raito, receiving more than1,400 retweets, 3,800 likes and 8,300 comments in two days (shown below).


USA TODAY @USATODAY USA TODAY The average adult in the USA spends $1,497 a month on nonessential items. All told, that's roughly $18,000 a year on things we can all do without. bit.ly/2vlbNZZ Average American spends almost $18,000 a year on "nonessentials" Breakdown of some of the typical American spends on "nonessentials" (average costs per month) ORestaurant meals Rdeshares $209 $96 Drinks $189 Personal grooming $94 Takeouts/delivery Subscription boxes $94 $178 Cable $91 Buying lunch $174 Impulse purchases $109 Online shopping $84 USA TODAY MONEY SOURCE Ladder 6:35 PM - 7 May 2019

Spread

Shortly after the tweet was published, many criticized the post and the study's assessment of American spending. Twitter[2] user @3vanSutton tweeted, "Jeff Bezos' personal wealth grew by an average of $87,000 per minute in 2018. Maybe we should discuss that instead of shaming people for eating lunch or getting a haircut. Just spitballing here." The tweet received more than 9,500 retweets and 31,000 likes in two days (shown below, left).

Others noted that the study in the full article was paid for by Ladder insurance company. LA Times report Laura J. Nelson tweeted,[3] "This study was commissioned by a life insurance company, and you'd never guess what they think you should be spending the money on instead." The post received more than 1,100 retweets and 3,800 likes in two days (shown below, center).

Some just found the study offensive, as the things discussed were, in their opinion, far from "extravaganza." Film critic Priscilla Page tweeted,[4] "how incredibly extravagant & self-indulgent of ppl to…uh, try to enjoy their life, leave their home, eat, & stay clean." The tweet received more than 780 retweets and 4,400 likes in 24 hours (shown below, right).

Several media outlets covered the tweet, including The Daily Dot, [5] Pajiba,[6] The Mary Sue,[7] BroBible[8] and more.


Jeff Bezos' personal wealth grew by an average of $87,000 per minute in 2018 Maybe we should discuss that instead of shaming people for eating lunch or getting a haircut. Just spitballing here USA TODAY Φ @USATODAY Averag.American ntienda ●lineat sinooo , The average adult in the USA spends $1,497 a month on 冒ー $18ausew, fFR64iste, to.. ดำเ r.-n.ต nonessential items. All told, that's roughly $18,000 a year on things we can all do without. bit.ly/2vlbNZZ 100 9:01 PM -7 May 2019 Laura J. Nelson- @laura_nelson This study was commissioned by a life insurance company, and you'd never guess what they think you should be spending the money on instead. USA TODAY Φ @USATODAY merican ntiends alineat s 18 000 t set The average adult in the USA spends $1,497 a month on nonessential items. All told, that's roughly $18,000 a year on things we can all do without. bit.ly/2vlbNZZ 8:39 PM-7 May 2019 priscilla page @BBW_BFF how incredibly extravagant & self- indulgent of ppl to...uh, try to enjoy their life, leave their home, eat, & stay clean aUSA TODAY @USATODAY The average adult in the USA spends $1,497 a month on nonessential items. All told, that's roughly $18,000 a year Average American spends almost $18,000 on things we can all do without. bit.ly/2vlbNZZ 8:22 PM - 7 May 2019

Various Examples


Ah yes, how dare people try make make their lives enjoyable and livable. We must only work for the man and scrounge to live according to the gospel of capitalsim amen USA TODAY Φ @USATODAY Average American spends almost $18,000 . The average adult in the USA spends $1,497 a month on nonessential items. All told, that's roughly $18,000 a year on things 団 62 5its s n mwe can all do without. bit.ly/2vlbNZZ 3:06 PM - 8 May 2019 You gonna do a list on all the "nonessential items" Corporate CEO's buy while not paying taxes and denying their workers healthcare & a living wage? USA TODAY Φ @USATODAY The average adult in the USA spends $1,497 a month on Average American spends almost $18,000 Aam- toi momen- 冒- nonessential items. All told, that's roughly $18,000 a year un things we can all do without. bit.ly/2vlbNZZ 100 9:24 PM-7 May 2019 the average adult in the US spends about $5k a year on student loans which is also nonessential but, hey, MILLENIALS BE SHOPPING USA TODAY Ф @USATODAY The average adult in the USA spends $1,497 a month on nonessential items. All told, that's roughly $18,000 a year on things Average American spends almost $18,000 尖." foi 170 we can all do without. bit.ly/2vlbNZZ 8:16 AM - 8 May 2019
Hi it's me, the guy who thinks personal grooming, transportation, and internet access (cable) are all "nonessential" Average American spends almost $18,000 a year on "nonessentials'" Breakdown of some of the typical American spends on "nonessentials" (average costs per month): O Restaurant meals Rideshares $96 Drinks $189 Personal grooming $94 Subscription boxes 0102Takeouts/delivery $178 $94 Cable $91 Buying lunch $174 Impulse purchases $109 Online shopping $84 USA TODAY MONEY SOURCE Ladder 8:07 AM - 8 May 2019 Ummm...w/out a car, rideshare is essential For Black women especially, "personal grooming" is NOT nonessential if we want to continue to work. Online shopping is how l get groceries (aka essential). I also don't make enough to waste $1500/mo on "nonessentials" and still pay rent Average American spends almost $18,000 The average adult in the USA spends $1,497 a month on nonessential items. All told, that's roughly $18,000 a year on things we can all do without. bit.lv/2vlbNZZ 100 2:00 PM - 9 May 2019 Anyone else think it's funny that they're telling us food and grooming are unnecessary monthly costs while trying to sell us a monthly subscription to a newspaper? USA TODAY Φ @USATODAY The average adult in the USA spends $1,497 a month on nonessential items. All told, that's roughly $18,000 a year on things merican ntienda ai nost STB,000 씌m- toi "m-... 罗ー-ㄧˊ antra 団 n __ we can all do without. bit.ly/2vlbNZZ 5:53 PM - 8 May 2019


Search Interest

External References

[1] Twitter – @USATODAY's Tweet

[2] Twitter – @3vanSutton's Tweet

[3] Twitter – @laura_nelson's Tweet

[4] Twitter – @BBW_BFF's Tweet

[5] The Daily Dot – USA Today flamed for ‘average’ American budget story

[6] Pajiba – The 'USA Today' Infographic on 'Nonessentials' Misses the Whole Damn Point

[7] The Mary Sue – USA Today Shames Average Americans for Spending Money on “Nonessentials” Like Lunch

[8] BroBible – The Internet Is Very Angry With This Article About What ‘Average’ Americans Are ‘Wasting’ Their Money On

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