Okay, I re-read it and the cynicism must have been a reaction to the self-aggrandizing click-bait nonsense. I got nerd sniped when I started pondering the chall

Okay, I re-read it and the cynicism must have been a reaction to the self-aggrandizing click-bait nonsense. I got nerd sniped when I started pondering the challenge of going a whole year without buying anything. Like, maybe you grow your own food and sleep on couches? I went from "this person wants to share what they learned" to "this person is using gimmicks to get my attention". Kind of like how people will want to talk about being vegan or gluten-free but I quickly realize they don't know what amino acids or Celiac disease are. So, literally "cynicism" as in "distrusting or disparaging the motives of others". If the article lead with something like "how it feels to go 6 months without spending money on entertainment" I wouldn't doubt her motives.