What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear Gen Z?
Flamboyant, restless, and always glued to their cellphones, right? In fact, many times, you may’ve heard that the entire generation is too hard to handle, be it professionally or personally. And that’s probably one of the reasons why you have questions on Gen Z financial habits, owing to their spendthrift nature.
Well, you’d be very wrong if you assumed that. Because survey findings on Gen Z’s financial approach bring over surprising results, which may shock you to the core! A 2022 report says that about 61% of Gen Zs are considered disciplined and consistent savers!
What the Data Actually Says About Gen Z Financial Habits
Studies published in Talker Research show that 21% of Gen Z save 1% to 10% of their monthly income. Apart from that, 25% of them even manage to set aside 11% to 20% for savings. Furthermore, about 12% of the generation saves anywhere between 21% to 30% of their income, while 5% get to save their entire monthly salary!
If you compare these stats to the financial behavior of millennials and Gen X at the same age, you’ll observe some notable differences in financial habits. The older ones were more inclined to the FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) strategy. They used to save up vehemently, thinking about the future. They didn’t want to spend more on luxury, for the sake of the upcoming days.
On the other hand, Gen Z spending trends might’ve earned them a not-so-practical reputation. But they are more into ‘soft savings’. This means that they give priority to present enjoyment and luxuries rather than an aggressive retirement plan. This prioritization of present well-being is entirely the opposite of the FIRE strategy, which creates a huge difference in the financial behaviors of these generations.
For instance, traveling has become a second nature and a mandatory element for Gen Z. Also, they are very keen on outdoor activities, fashion, beauty products, and the latest technologies. However, they are financially conservative about investments in real estate.
Economic Context: How Does It Matter
Did you know that the financial habits of Gen Z have a lot to do with the economic context in which they grew up?
Well, the generation, while growing up, witnessed periods of economic downturn and uncertainty. Not just that, but they also saw the 2008 financial crisis, along with the increasing burden of hefty student loans on the older generations. Such turbulent situations actively triggered their understanding of finance and helped shape their financial mindset.
The struggles of the older generation, hence, made the generation a lot more cautious, and cranked up their desire to attain financial security. What’s best about them is their awareness of the importance of financial literacy. Most of the Gen Zers you see nowadays are deeply inclined towards financial literacy and research. So, that’s how economic context matters and helps shape the mindset of the upcoming generations.
Digital Natives, Digital Money
One thing about Gen Z is that they all grew up at the time of the digital revolution. Hence, technologically and digitally, they have become much more sound than the older generations.
And this very aspect has helped shape Gen Z financial habits more than anything else! How? Well, technical advancements have brought about investment apps, that has completely changed the way to save, invest, and spend. And being born and brought up in the age of digitalization, Gen Zers have developed a natural comfort with these digital tools, and apps.
And that’s the primary reason why a majority of these youngsters have installed investment apps via which they can manage their finances anytime! Other than that, the generation has also shown great interest in other forms of finance, like cryptocurrency. If you look closely, you’ll find many Gen Z consumers with heavy investments in cryptocurrencies rather than stocks! Added to that, their inclination towards social media platforms like TikTok or YouTube for financial literacy helps them understand financial concepts better.
Value-Based Spending
No matter what you do, savings are an important thing. And that’s why you may find videos about budgeting for young adults flooding the internet.
However, the Gen Zers spendings are significantly influenced by values and their desire for meaningful experiences. The generation prioritizes experience-based purchases over material possessions. This includes things like travel, concerts, or unique events. They seek memories and personal growth rather than savings.
Furthermore, Gen Zers are very much inclined towards ethical consumption patterns. They are aware of social and environmental issues, which makes them support brands that align with their values, even if they have to pay a premium price. They also highly value transparency and authenticity from brands. This extends to supporting local businesses, diverse entrepreneurs, and companies with strong corporate social responsibility initiatives.
Finally, the current subscription models significantly appeal to Gen Z. Right from streaming services and fitness apps to curated product boxes, subscriptions offer convenience, personalized access, and a sense of belonging to a community. This model resonates with their preference for access over ownership, which allows them to budget for access to services that they frequently enjoy. Hence, value-based spending happens to be one of the core Gen Z financial habits that shapes their investment decisions and sets them apart from millennials!
Long-Term Financial Planning
Now, don’t let the spendthrift nature of the generation fool you into believing that they’re not interested in long-term investments! Many among them have already started to invest a percentage of their salaries in IRAs or 401(k)s, much earlier than their previous generations. Such early gestures stem from the economic downturns that they’ve witnessed while growing up. Hence, those tutorials and videos about saving money in your 20s literally have helped them a lot!
Besides retirement plans, their homeownership goals are also rooted in practicality. They understand the drawbacks and challenges of the real estate market and have a pragmatic approach to it. For instance, rather than immediate investments, they prefer financial flexibility. They are more interested in investing in equity schemes, which, in the long run, is a great strategy to multiply their savings!
Additionally, they also prioritize building robust emergency funds and financial safety nets. Having grown up through recessions, they understand the vulnerability of financial instability. Hence, they are diligent about saving money for unforeseen circumstances. On top of that, they understand that a solid emergency fund provides great security and helps reduce stress. This further allows them to pursue other financial goals with greater confidence. So, these are some of the money-saving tips for Gen Z that they’ve learnt quite early in their careers and are making judicious use of them.
Are you curious to know more about what Gen Z and the other generations think of finances?
Join us at The Panel Station, and quench your thirst for knowledge today! We conduct financial surveys on a regular basis across varied age groups, from Gen Zs to millennials, and even Gen X. This approach helps us unravel interesting insights about people’s saving habits, investment preferences, and financial behavior.
Hence, if you choose to register for our vibrant community, you’ll get opportunities to share your own financial POVs and earn exciting rewards in return. Added to that, you can also actively contribute to research on how different generations approach financial stability and money management.
Gen Z: The Finance-Savvy Generation That’s Breaking Stereotypes
So, do Gen Zers really care about setting aside money for savings? The answer, very surprisingly, is a big yes, owing to the unique and nuanced approach to finance that they possess. They are seamlessly achieving financial goals with a blend of caution and innovation.
What’s more important is their focus on value-based spending and awareness of long-term financial planning. Now, as this generation matures, these Gen Z financial habits will have a high chance of reshaping the entire standards of the financial industry.
Therefore, it is important for Gen X and millennials to keep their ego aside and learn a bit from the newbies! Especially when it comes to adapting new tools and technology, Gen Zs have a natural fluency that makes them handle finances seamlessly.
F.A.Qs on Gen Z Financial Habits
- How has social media influenced Gen Z’s relationship with money compared to previous generations?
Social media platforms like TikTok and YouTube have become hubs for financial education for Gen Z. These platforms offer accessible, bite-sized content on financial planning, budgeting, and investing. This is a sharp contrast with previous generations, who typically relied on traditional sources like financial advisors or books for financial guidance.
- What percentage of Gen Z is actively investing, and which platforms are they using most?
At present, nearly 65% of Gen Z investors are active investors and are mostly using investment apps and cryptocurrencies for their purposes.
- How do financial priorities differ between younger and older segments of Gen Z?
Older segments of Gen Z usually prefer investing in long-term plans like equity schemes and stocks. The younger segments, however, prefer value-based spending, and are more inclined towards soft-savings.
- Are Gen Z’s saving habits influenced more by economic necessity or by values-based choices?
Gen Z’s saving habits are influenced by both economic necessity as well as value-based choices. Since they grew up witnessing economic downturns, they have a desire for financial security. At the same time, their spending, and by extension their saving, is influenced by values.
- What financial education resources are most effective for reaching the Gen Z demographic?
Social media platforms like TikTok and YouTube are highly effective financial education resources. These platforms deliver financial literacy through engaging, accessible, and relatable content, which helps Gen Zs understand complex financial concepts and identify new investment opportunities outside traditional means.
