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From sushi delivery to oat milk lattes, how ‘little treats’ provide sense of solace

On Dec. 16, 2025, The Canadian Press reported that 'little treat culture' involves small purchases as everyday pick-me-ups for young people facing rising costs and crises in Canada.
Rising costs and climate and political anxieties are pressing young people, and Catharine Winstanley, behavioural neuroscience expert, University of British Columbia, said spending on little treats boosts happiness versus saving for housing.
Examples range from home-delivered sushi to Fortnite 'skins,' while delay discounting explains impulsive choices, and Schorn, café worker, said customers say, `They will say, yeah, 'I'm here for my little treat,' pretty much quoted just exactly like that.'
Local cafés report increased foot traffic over the last year as customers seek small purchases and brief social interactions, with Taylor Arnt, 27, of Winnipeg, saying sometimes their one interaction is with the barista.
The trade-off is summed up by a $20 example: Winstanley said, "It's hard to get that pick-me-up by saying like, 'Oh, if I take this $20 I'm going to put it towards, you know, a down payment for a house in 30 years.

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From sushi delivery to oat milk lattes, how ‘little treats’ provide sense of solace

Young customers and families filter in and out of Foglifter, a bustling café in Vancouver’s Mount Pleasant neighbourhood, ordering croissants and lattes. Barista Nicholas Schorn says many, especially millennials, are open about their ritual.

11 hours ago·Canada

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