The Eating Money meme usually features a person, often a child or a flamboyant character, literally chewing on or swallowing banknotes. It acts as a powerful visual metaphor for the high cost of living, 'burning' through savings, or the absurdity of luxury spending. While various iterations have existed across the internet for years, including stock photos and screenshots from music videos, it became a staple on social media for describing how bills, hobbies, and unexpected life events 'consume' one's income. It is frequently used by niche communities to highlight the expensive nature of their interests, from PC building to car restoration.