Is Being ‘Broke’ Just a Mindset? This TikToker Makes His Case

TikToker Jean-Luc explains why being "broke" is not something cash-strapped big spenders should take seriously.

A TikToker is going viral for his unique stance on financial strains. According to content creator Jean-Luc, being “broke” is more of a mental state than reality and shouldn’t force cash-strapped Americans from being big spenders.

Jean-Luc explained his controversial thinking regarding money while participating in an interview for another TikToker’s platform, Subway Takes. The interview, which takes place on a New York City subway, displayed the influencer sharing his financial circumstances and why he still chooses to live lavishly.

@subwaytakes Episode 85: BEING BROKE IS A MINDSET feat @Jean-Luc 🎤 @KAREEM RAHMA 🎥 @Anthony DiMieri @Willem Holzer #nyc #newyorkcity #podcast #subway #hottakes #interview #conversations #nycsubway #subwaytakes #millenials #personalfinance #abundancemindset #money ♬ original sound – Subway Takes

“Being broke is a mindset,” said Jean-Luc to the show’s host, Kareem Rahma. “If more people didn’t think that they were broke, they wouldn’t be.”

He continued, explaining the “abundance mindset” that rationalizes his spending habits.

“Honestly, I’m in $100,000 in credit card debt,” shared Jean-Luc. “But I’m going to St. Barths on Tuesday. I’m going to the Gucci store today….Dude, its an abundance mindset, the money will always come back…You don’t even need to be rich to act like it.”

This abundance mindset is the faith that money will come as needed, so stressing about one’s expensive choices is a waste of time. For the content creator, this rationale has proven to work in his favor thus far.

Jean-Luc is also part of a cohort of Black consumers driving the luxury sector. Despite the woes of inflation and a fluctuating economy, Black people have still accounted for 20% of luxury spending since 2019 and are on track to grow more. According to a Bain report detailed in Essence, this percentage will increase by 25% to 30% in 2025.

Despite these rising numbers, Black millennials are still heavily impacted by higher debt. Their non-mortgage debt is approximately $11,000 more than their white counterparts, as covered before on BLACK ENTERPRISE. However, this insistence on participating in luxury buying and maintaining this image may stem from discrimination, according to Tari Dagogo-Jack, an assistant marketing professor at the University of Georgia.

“If you feel like you’re under attack or a group that you belong to is, you will defend yourself by wanting to move closer to signifiers of that group,” explained Dagogo-Jack, reported Finurah in 2022. “We will often use brands to reimagine our self-identity that we want to convey to others.”

Regardless of the economic state, influencers like Jean-Luc indicate a growing trend toward “Keeping up with the Joneses” despite what one’s bank account may look like.