A Malaysian uncle recently shared his thoughts on XiaoHongShu, after noticing a young female promoter at a mallbeverage booth who looked surprisingly well-off.
She was very polite and serious,” he wrote. “But I accidentally noticed some details — the latest iPhone, Apple Watch, a gold ring on her finger, and Nike shoes on her feet.”
He admitted being stunned at first and said it made him reflect on how different spending habits are today.
“Is it me getting old, or has the mindset really changed?”
The uncle compared her lifestyle to his generation, writing:
“If it were our generation, with that kind of income, we wouldn’t spend like that.”
“We always believed money should be saved first. Only when things were stable would we start upgrading.”
Is it me getting old, or has the mindset really changed?” he wrote.
He also wondered if young people today see spending as a way to express values, and if the promoter was simply working temporarily to gain life experience.
Netizens say mindset isn’t wrong, just different
The post sparked a wave of responses on XiaoHongShu, with many offering perspectives rather than criticism.
One netizen wrote: “Even if she’s wearing good things, she’s still working. That’s more than some people do.”
Another said: “Adults often compare with the past. Times have changed. Some people buy things that make them happy — and that’s okay, especially if it’s planned and within their means.”
Promoter replies: it’s not about right or wrong
One commenter, who claimed to be just like the girl in the post, replied: “I’m actually that kind of promoter. The phone, watch and shoes were all from my mum. I work to pass time, meet people, and save for travel.”
Another Gen Z user shared:
I upgraded to an iPhone 16 Pro Max after waiting a year. I bought it secondhand using my bonus. For me, I save first and only buy when I know I can still live comfortably after.”
Many echoed a similar message as everyone has different situations, and outward appearances don’t always reflect income level or financial responsibility.
