The materialistic person is one of the most common and well-known personality types. Everybody knows somebody who fits this description, even if they don’t know it themselves. If you think that someone in your life may be materialistic, read on for 17 signs to watch out for!

What is a Materialistic Person?

A materialistic person is someone who cares a lot about material things, including money and status symbols.

While not all materialists are bad people, they can be quite difficult to deal with if you’re more concerned with the spiritual aspects of life than their possessions.

17 Signs of Materialistic People

1. They’re always checking their phone

If you notice your friend checking their phone every few minutes to see if the latest text or social media post has received any likes, then chances are that they’re a materialist.

Not only does this behavior indicate materialism, but it also shows that their materialistic tendencies are a priority in life.

2. They place importance on possessions rather than people.

A materialistic person will often rank material possessions higher than the people they care about.

This could be anything from their latest purchase to a designer purse, but there is likely more meaning attached to that object than the friendships or relationships in life.

3. They often talk about money.

If you notice that materialists are always talking about money, then this is a sure-fire sign.

Not only does materialism affect personal relationships and the environment around them, but it also changes how they talk to others.

4. When someone else has something nicer than them, they feel inferior.

Materialism is a competitive sport. When materialists see someone with something nicer than them, they feel inferior and want to get the same thing as quickly as possible.

5. Their home is usually cluttered with items they don’t use.

If materialists have a lot of things they don’t use, then their materialism becomes apparent in the way they live.

A cluttered home is not only an eyesore to others and can be difficult to clean, but it’s also a sign that materialistic tendencies are present.

6. They care about the opinion of others more than their own.

Materialists care about the opinion of others more than they do their own, which can be a difficult thing to deal with for those who don’t share materialistic tendencies or values.

7. They always want more material things.

One of materialism’s biggest signs is the desire for more material things, no matter what they already have.

Materialism often starts out small and leads to bigger purchases, eventually turning into a never-ending cycle where materialists are always looking for more.

8. They may use people to get ahead in life.

Materialists often use other people to help get ahead in life.

This could be through materialistic means, such as asking for a favor or gift in exchange for something they know the person wants; but it can also simply be by talking about their material possessions and status symbols around others who might not have those things.

9. They don’t seem to have a genuine sense of identity and purpose.

Materialism can make materialists feel like they don’t have a true sense of identity or purpose in life. They could get wrapped up in the identity of others or how they would like to be perceived by others.

10. They share their material possessions on social media.

Materialistic people often share their material possessions on social media. This way, they can show off to others and feel like a part of the “look at me” culture that’s present in society.

11. They constantly brag about what they have.

Materialists often brag about what they have through materialistic means, such as posting pictures of their latest purchase or status symbol on social media and talking about it all the time.

12. They have no problem spending money they don’t have.

Materialists often feel like material objects are more important than people in life; so if materialism becomes an addiction, then they may have no problem spending money they don’t have.

13. They don’t seem fazed by the negative effects of materialism on society and themselves.

When materialism starts to have an effect on other people and social issues, materialists often don’t seem to be fazed by it.

Even if they know materialism is bad for society, materialists will still care more about the material things themselves and could even fight against those who want change.

14. They feel entitled to material things.

A materialistic person can easily start feeling like they are entitled to material things and should be compensated for their work in some way, no matter what the cost is to them or those around them.

Materialism has a sense of entitlement built into it because many materialists believe that people with more money deserve even more material things.

15. They can be competitive at times.

A materialistic person may feel competitive when it comes to material things.

They will often compare themselves to others and try to one-up them by buying material items they don’t need or can’t afford in order to make themselves look better than the other person.

16. They often have materialistic tendencies from a young age.

Materialism can often start when people are younger, with materialists not knowing they were materialists until later in life.

Material objects may be given to them by older generations or there could simply be materialistic influences that lead to this way of thinking and acting.

17. They don’t seem content with what they have.

Materialists often lack contentment with material things in life because materialism is always about wanting more.

They could be discontented with what they have now or even feel like it’s not enough to show off their material status.

Final Thoughts

It is important to understand the signs of materialism so you can avoid it in your own life. Here are a few things that could be warning signs for people who have an unhealthy relationship with their money and possessions.