The Big Take
The ‘Adulting’ Tax: Tired Americans Are Willing to Pay to Save Time
Companies are taking advantage of a consumer eager for products that take on some of life’s drudgery.
A washer-dryer combo that does a load of laundry in under two hours for $2,000 — just set it and forget it. A $1,700 oven that claims to make restaurant quality pizza at home in two minutes. And an $1,800 “styler” closet that, with the press of a button, deodorizes, steams and lightly dries clothing.
Consumers just can’t anymore: They’re tired of bracing for price increases, they’re tired of counting every dollar, they’re tired of the will-they, won’t-they of tariffs. They just want help taking on some of life’s drudgery — and more than ever are willing to pay up for it.