6 Ways to Little-Treat Your Way Through Ireland’s General Election this Friday

Its general election week; the nation is on edge, and honestly? Same.

The stakes are high, the debates are tepid, and it’s too hard to read the damn room when you know there are quiet conservatives among us. Every campaign promise tastes like spin, and every flyer feels like a passive-aggressive text from your ex. So how can an emotionally overcooked Dubliner cope with the uncertainty, the angst, and the absolute scenes about to unfold?

First, mute the group chat you know will be hopping with every minute change. Your nervous system doesn’t need that. Check the results at set times from legit news sources that are devoid of spin and little treat your way through it, of course.

Think of little treats as the emotionally stable cousin of doomspending. Little treats are small, controlled indulgences that make life feel a little brighter. Doomspending, on the other hand, is a financial kamikaze mission born out of existential despair. If you’ve ever bought a €600 rowing machine because you “just needed a win,” you’ve been there. (No judgment, we’ve all been there.)

Little treats are about joy. Doomspending is about avoidance. One is a pat on the back; the other is a financial hangover waiting to happen. So, to help you stay fiscally responsible but also wrap yourself in emotional cotton wool, we’ve rounded up six impeccable ways to sprinkle a little joy into your day without losing the run of yourself.

Grab your tote bag —it’s time to treat yourself through this.

6. 2-for-1 Bubble Tea

You’ve voted. Well, fucking done. That your civic duty has been checked off the list. You deserve a treat. For the sweeties among us, this 2-for-1 bubble tea deal should spark a little joy amid this dreary Friday. This is peak Little Treat Girlie energy. It’s sweet, it’s chewy, it’s mildly ridiculous—and it’s precisely the kind of thing to distract you from the TikTok doom scrolling. Share the second one with a mate, or hoard both and live your truth. No judgment.

5. Discounted Wine

As the results trickle in and the tension rises, nothing pairs with existential dread quite like wine. This year’s Black Friday Magic Dozen wine deal from Wine Station has everything you need: affordable six-packs, rare magnums, and plenty of midweek pour options. Whether you’re sipping to celebrate or chugging to forget, wine is your ultimate election night winger. Just remember: no glass-throwing. If the general election goes sideways, that treat becomes a doomspend cos that aesthetic glassware aint cheap.

4. El Grito Burrito

Nothing fuels Dublin like big, spicy burritos. Dublin’s El Grito is offering 2-for-1 burritos on election day. A burrito will keep you grounded if you’re debating housing policies with a landlord or just avoiding a family WhatsApp argument. 2 burritos will fortify you with the strength to get through an ice age; if that's what it comes to.

3. €5 Pints in Bray

Sometimes, only the sea will soothe the savage beast within. When you’re awash with anxiety, the rhythmic lapping of waves calms like sertraline could never. So make a beeline for one of the DART’s best coastal towns, Bray. Then, when you’ve walked off the overwhelming foreboding, it’s time for a value-oriented pint. Grab a €5 pint in The Palm and settle in for some communal celebrating/commiserating. There’s nothing more Irish than processing the fate of the nation over a creamy g.

2. Upgrade Your Air Fryer

“An air fryer in Lidl? Groundbreaking.” But hear me out. Lidl’s Vortx 8L Air Fryer is down to €84.99 from €299.99, and it’s a proper kitchen upgrade. The air fryer (much to the dismay of the Gastro Gays) is here to stay. It’s not some Lean Mean Grilling Machine trend that will go the way of George Foreman. This convection oven with notions has become as integral to Irish life as the kettle. So it stands to reason that if you phoned it in with a mediocre model, you should upgrade to a stalwart that will do your bidding without leeching PFAS (evil microplastics) into your food. It’s the treat that keeps on giving.

1. Book a Flight

Let’s face it: if the general election results leave you muttering, “I’m done with this country,” you’re not alone. Luckily, Black Friday flight deals abound. Ryanair is off again with the cheap midweek breaks. Aer Lingus has those NYC deals on special. Booking a trip might be the perfect palate cleanser. Knowing you have sunshine on the horizon can soften even the harshest electoral blow.

Sure, it’s not doom spending if you get a good deal. And most importantly? Vote.

Vote early, vote with kindness, and let the cards fall where they may.