60. Would You Still Buy It If Nobody Could See It? The Truth About Status Spending
That thing you bought recently — the bag, the jewelry, the trip, the apartment you stretched your budget for.
If nobody would ever see it, never appear in a photo, never signal anything to anyone — would you still want it?
For some things, genuinely yes.
But for some, if you're being honest, the answer is more complicated.
Because some things you bought to be the person who has that thing.
And that impulse is one of the most expensive things you'll ever act on.
Research summarized by Columbia Business School in 2026 found something striking: perceived financial constraint can actually lead…
The skinny
The skinny isn't ready yet — notes appear once the transcript is processed.