The $148 SKIMS Advent Calendar Is a Much-Needed Reality Check on Holiday Spending

Buyer beware! With the holidays right around the corner, a lot of people are starting to look at their household budgets to see just how much Christmas cheer they can afford to spread this year. 

For some people, money will be tight, which means prioritizing important purchases in some cases and scaling back on holiday spending in others. According to one personal finance expert, that may also mean taking a good look at those products influencers encourage people to buy each year.

That’s especially true of this year’s viral SKIMS advent calendar, which people couldn’t stop talking about after several people called the $148 luxury advent calendar a complete bust. Now, the woman behind the Economikat Facebook account is telling her followers what they should do instead of following the latest holiday trends.

Based on the comments on Economikat’s post, the advice was a much-needed reminder for some shoppers who are looking for help staying on budget while also avoiding the pitfalls of overconsuming this holiday season. 

A Personal Finance Expert Has a Holiday Spending Warning

People who are active on social media have likely already seen the backlash surrounding the SKIMS advent calendars. Several content creators, like @kaylaryan on Threads, have posted videos of themselves opening their 2026 SKIMS advent calendars, which reportedly cost around $150.

However, when people go through the 12 different gifts included in the countdown, they say that they’re left with items that don’t exactly match the price tag. That’s something that was behind the inspiration for Economikat’s post, where she warned people against wasting their money on purchases they don’t need this Christmas.

“Maybe this is an unpopular opinion, but I wouldn’t pay $150 for an advent calendar even if I win the lotto … especially if I’m getting hair ties and bobby pins for that said calendar,” she wrote in her post. Instead, she suggested that her followers do something more worthwhile with their money.

“Pay yourself first and transfer money to your savings and investments, mop your floors, and change your bedsheets,” she wrote.

Shoppers Say the Advice is a Much-Needed Reminder

Hundreds of people responded to the post, with many of them thanking Economikat for her wise advice. “Smart lady. I could certainly afford those $150 advent calendars, but too much money if you ask me, so no I don’t buy them,” one person wrote.

“I heard you in my mind as I walked into HomeGoods today,” another person wrote, saying that they were able to talk themselves out of making impulse purchases and instead returned the items they came to handle and left without buying anything extra.

“Another reminder … You don’t need to bury yourself in debt buying Christmas gifts that will take you a year to pay off,” a third person wrote. According to a new study from Ramsey Solutions, around 53 percent of Americans say they will be cutting back on their holiday spending this year thanks to increased costs elsewhere, highlighting how some are already feeling the financial squeeze before they’ve even begun their holiday spending.

It’s easy to get sucked into the “joy of giving,” especially when so many influencers are trying to convince people to buy products online. However, Economikat’s advice serves as a good reminder about the importance of shopping with purpose and sticking to a budget.