Not stonks Meme Template
This template is the inverse of the Stonks meme, featuring the same MS Paint-style businessman but in a dejected downward-trending context, used to represent financial losses, bad decisions, or anything going in the wrong direction. It is applied ironically to poor choices presented as if they were obvious economic outcomes.
Caption this template- Category
- Situation Meme Templates
- Size
- 960 x 576 px
- Format
- Image
- Price
- Free, no sign up
Where the Not stonks meme comes from
Not Stonks emerged as a direct parody of the Stonks meme, which itself originated around 2017 featuring a crudely edited image of a businessman in front of a rising stock chart. The 'not stonks' variant flips the chart downward and became popular for representing losing money, bad investments, or any decision that backfired.
How to caption the Not stonks meme
Label the downward chart with a decision, purchase, or strategy that has clearly resulted in a bad outcome, treating the loss as if it were a formal economic indicator. For comedic value, apply it to a non-financial situation that resulted in the emotional or practical equivalent of losing money. Open it in the meme generator, or read how to make relatable memes for more.
Not stonks caption ideas
Need a starting point? Try one of these on the Not stonks template, then make it your own in the meme generator.
- Bought the dip. The dip kept dipping. Not stonks.
- Paid for the annual gym membership in January. Have gone twice. Not stonks.
- Left my full cart of groceries to 'think about it,' came back, prices went up. Not stonks.
- Texted 'we should hang out soon' to 12 people. Plans made: zero. Not stonks.
- Spent 40 minutes optimizing a task that takes 5 minutes to do by hand. Not stonks.
Best uses for the Not stonks template
Use the Not stonks template when the joke fits a situation format and the image can explain the feeling before the reader finishes the caption. It is strongest for relatable everyday moments, before-and-after jokes, and social observations.
This blank is 960 x 576 px and is a still image, so place the most important words where they stay readable after a feed crop. The wide frame works best when the caption stays centered so timeline crops do not cut off the joke.
The sample captions leave room for a setup and a punchline without turning into a paragraph. Before exporting, read the caption once without looking at the image; if it still needs a long explanation, switch to a simpler setup or a more obvious related template.
Caption patterns to try
| Pattern | Why it works |
|---|---|
| Bought the dip. The dip kept dipping. Not stonks. | This works because it gives the reader a specific situation instead of a vague label. |
| Paid for the annual gym membership in January. Have gone twice. Not stonks. | This pattern keeps the setup concrete, which helps the template carry the reaction. |
| Left my full cart of groceries to 'think about it,' came back, prices went up. Not stonks. | This is a useful direction when you want the punchline to feel personal or self-aware. |
Common mistakes with this blank
- Writing a caption that explains the whole joke instead of letting the Not stonks image do part of the work.
- Placing text over the most expressive part of the image, especially faces, gestures, signs, or the main action.
- Using three different ideas in one meme. This template works better when it points at one clear situation.
- Exporting before checking the meme at phone size. If the smallest words blur together, shorten the caption first.
