Why Everything Is So Cheap (But So Expensive)

Thanks to Betterment for sponsoring this video! Get started, be invested, Sign up in minutes: https://www.betterment.com/influencer... In our October, 2025 video essay, Chelsea breaks down how almost everything has gotten cheaper in quality over time — from our food and furniture to the clothes we wear. What happens when products are designed to fall apart, and “more” becomes the default? We explore how planned obsolescence, fast fashion, and cost-cutting have changed the way we shop, live, and value the things we own. Special thanks to: -Paige Pritchard, Founder of Overcoming Overspending https://www.instagram.com/overcoming_... -Elliot Duprey, Fashion advisor https://www.instagram.com/elliotdupre... SOURCE LINKS: https://www.fashionbeans.com/article/... https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/26/bu... https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.... https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTMRVyV8E/ https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTMRVDwCk/ https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTMRVruDR/ https://sustainabilitymag.com/article..., https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/fa... https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/13/style/... https://qz.com/189904/the-case-for-fe... https://www.forbes.com/sites/brookero... https://www.vox.com/money/23728283/lu... https://www.travelandleisure.com/hote... https://www.tiktok.com/@faganchelsea/... https://www.tiktok.com/@faganchelsea/... https://www.kiplinger.com/personal-fi... https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/w... https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retri... https://www.architecturaldigest.com/s... TIME STAMPS: 00:00:00 Intro 00:02:00 Ad Break 00:06:34 Chapter 1: Things Weren't Always This Cheap 00:15:07 Chapter 2: The Death Of The Investment Piece 00:29:12 Chapter 3: Everyone Will Travel, And No One Will Like It 00:40:48 Chapter 4: Why Do We All Live In Barbie Dream Houses Now 00:47:35 Chapter 5: Food Quality, A Very Yummy Dystopia 00:51:30 Chapter 6: Performative Minimalism, The Ultimate Luxury