The “Spending Binge” That Took Over the NYT Mini—And Why We Love It
Have you ever had one of those quick little joys in your day—a moment where you pause the chaos, whip out your phone, and challenge yourself to a mini puzzle? Well, that’s exactly what The New York Times Mini Crossword offers. And today’s puzzle for July 22, 2025, brought us a fun little phrase that sparked a lot more attention than usual: "Spending binge" — the answer? SPREE .
Now, that might seem like a throwaway clue at first. Five little letters in a 5x5 grid. But "spending binge" hits a nerve in all the best ways. It’s instantly relatable. Whether it’s a literal shopping spree where you splurge on things you don’t need, or just an emotional high that leads you to smash the “add to cart” button one too many times, we’ve all been there.
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But here’s the fun part: it wasn’t just about consumer behavior today—it became a highlight of the puzzle because of how punchy and spot-on it felt. The word spree captures that chaotic joy, that sudden rush, that moment of impulsiveness. And it was nestled right between other clues like Cocoa (as in Cocoa Puffs, of course), Loopy , and the dreaded small phrases like "I care" —those empathetic yet infuriatingly vague answers you second guess five times before getting it right.
Players everywhere—whether hardcore speed-runners trying to solve under a minute or casual gamers sipping coffee—felt that satisfying click when SPREE slid into place. And for those who got stumped? Mashable and Forbes both jumped in with hints, reminding us how deeply these tiny puzzles have woven into our daily rhythm.
What’s especially fun is how much culture and language are packed into this little square. Clues like “Hoped-for answer when on bended knee” leading to YES , or “Bike without pedaling” turning out to be COAST , show how each answer taps into shared knowledge, collective memory, or simple observation.
But today, “spending binge” —that was the hook. It’s a clue that’s modern, it’s vivid, and it plays right into our fast-paced, dopamine-driven world where scrolling and shopping can go hand-in-hand. It’s not just about a crossword anymore. It’s about the way language reflects us back to ourselves.
So, next time you open up the Mini and see something like that? Take a moment to appreciate it. The puzzle’s small, but the cleverness packed inside? That’s what makes it worth coming back to—daily.
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