Generational

Millennials are battling financial struggles boomers never even imagined.

Money stress isn’t new, but millennials are dealing with financial pressures that boomers never had to face. The cost of living has skyrocketed, wages haven’t kept up, and traditional milestones like homeownership and debt-free living feel out of reach. Meanwhile, older generations often dish out outdated advice, assuming millennials are struggling because they’re buying too many lattes instead of acknowledging the real economic challenges at play.

Student loans, housing costs, and job instability have created a financial landscape unlike any before. On top of that, millennials are expected to save for retirement, handle rising healthcare costs, and somehow still enjoy life. It’s no wonder so many feel overwhelmed. While boomers were able to build wealth with stable jobs and affordable homes, today’s young adults are navigating an economic minefield. These financial nightmares prove that the playing field isn’t just uneven—it’s completely changed.

Read more

The crushing weight of financial insecurity affects a generation’s outlook on economic fairness.

The economic landscape for today’s young adults bears little resemblance to what previous generations navigated at the same life stage. Saddled with unprecedented student debt, facing skyrocketing housing costs, and entering a job market where wages have remained stagnant despite soaring productivity, many young people view the current economic system not as a ladder of opportunity but as a maze designed to keep them running in circles.

This perception isn’t merely youthful pessimism or impatience for success. Data increasingly supports the notion that structural economic changes have fundamentally altered the path to financial stability for those born after 1980, creating barriers that didn’t exist for their parents and grandparents.

Read more

The wealth gap isn’t bad luck—it’s a system designed to keep people struggling.

For years, millennials and Gen Z have been told that financial success is simple: work hard, save money, and invest wisely. But no matter how disciplined they are, many still find themselves falling behind, unable to buy homes, build savings, or escape debt. The truth is, wealth in America isn’t just about effort—it’s about access, timing, and inherited advantages that most younger generations never had.

Boomers and Gen X had an economy that rewarded work with livable wages, affordable housing, and stable pensions. Today, millennials and Gen Z are dealing with skyrocketing costs, stagnant incomes, and a financial system that benefits those who already have money. This isn’t just a series of bad breaks—it’s a structural shift that’s making wealth harder to build than ever before.

If you’ve ever wondered why younger generations are struggling financially despite doing everything “right,” these 12 truth bombs explain exactly what’s going on.

Read more

Younger generations are drowning in financial anxiety like no generation before them.

Every generation has faced economic struggles, but for Gen Z, financial anxiety isn’t just an occasional stress—it’s a constant reality. Born into a world shaped by recession, skyrocketing costs, and unstable job markets, many young adults feel like they’re financially drowning before they’ve even had a chance to swim. Unlike their parents and grandparents, who could rely on rising wages, affordable education, and stable career paths, Gen Z is coming of age in an economic landscape that feels hostile to their financial survival.

For them, money isn’t just about budgeting or making smart choices—it’s about navigating a system that seems fundamentally broken. Homeownership feels out of reach, student debt is suffocating, and wages haven’t kept pace with inflation. Many young adults are forced into gig work, juggling multiple income streams just to cover basic expenses.

If financial anxiety feels like it’s defining their entire generation, it’s because, in many ways, it is. Here’s why Gen Z is feeling the most financial stress of any generation before them.

Read more

What worked for millennials doesn’t always make sense to Gen Z.

Money habits change with each generation, and Gen Z is proving that they aren’t following in the financial footsteps of millennials. The world they’re inheriting looks different—higher living costs, a more digital economy, and a workforce that values flexibility over stability. That means some of the financial advice that worked for millennials feels outdated, impractical, or even downright irrelevant to Gen Z.

Instead of clinging to traditional money habits, Gen Z is reshaping how they earn, spend, and save. They’re prioritizing financial independence in new ways, avoiding some of the struggles millennials faced, and finding their own path to security. While millennials hustled to climb corporate ladders, buy homes, and save for retirement, Gen Z is questioning whether those moves even make sense anymore. Here are the money habits they think their millennial predecessors should have left behind.

Read more

The realities of adulthood are hitting harder than expected.

Growing up, adulthood seemed like a far-off milestone filled with independence, financial freedom, and the ability to make your own rules. But now that Gen Z is stepping into the real world, many are realizing that being an adult comes with a whole lot of unexpected struggles. The things that seemed simple—finding a job, affording rent, maintaining friendships—have turned out to be more complicated, expensive, and emotionally draining than anyone warned them about.

While every generation has faced challenges, Gen Z is dealing with a unique mix of skyrocketing costs, job market uncertainty, and a society that doesn’t function the way it used to. The playbook their parents followed doesn’t work anymore, and they’re left trying to navigate a world that feels stacked against them. Here are the hardest truths about adulthood that Gen Z is coming to terms with right now.

Read more

Some things boomers swear by just don’t make sense to Gen Z.

Every generation has different spending habits, but when Gen Z looks at some of the things boomers still shell out money for, they can’t help but wonder why. Times have changed, and so have priorities. What used to be considered smart purchases or status symbols now feel like outdated financial traps.

With rising costs, a shifting job market, and different values around convenience and technology, Gen Z has no problem skipping purchases that boomers once saw as essential. Whether it’s expensive homeownership, outdated subscriptions, or unnecessary luxuries, younger adults are cutting costs in ways older generations never would. Here are the boomer purchases Gen Z considers a total waste of money.

Read more

Gen Z is done with burnout and willing to trade money for peace.

Older generations may have accepted stress, overtime, and exhaustion as part of the job, but Gen Z isn’t buying in. To them, work isn’t supposed to drain every ounce of energy and leave them with nothing for themselves. They’ve watched millennials burn out chasing promotions and stability, only to end up exhausted, disillusioned, and still struggling financially. That’s why many young workers today are making a bold move: they’d rather take a pay cut than sacrifice their mental health.

This shift isn’t about laziness—it’s about survival. Gen Z sees work-life balance as a necessity, not a luxury. They’re not impressed by hustle culture or 80-hour workweeks, and they’re actively rejecting jobs that demand too much while offering too little in return.

While older generations might scoff at the idea of earning less on purpose, Gen Z understands that no amount of money is worth sacrificing their happiness, health, and personal freedom. Here’s why they’re walking away from high-paying jobs that cost too much of their lives.

Read more