Young Americans waste money on silly things — like TikTok’s “pink sauce” and Candy Crush. Three essential lessons they should steal from baby boomers

From the spirits in Candy Crush to TikTok’s “pink sauce” — the controversial condiment made with dragon fruit and sunflower seed oil — Generation Z is easily swayed by spending money on the frivolous finds they see online.

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a A recent study Financial services firm Bread Financial revealed that 28% of Gen Z have made in-game purchases, like add-ons for Sims or extra lives in Candy Crush, that they don’t want others to know about.

And 22% feel embarrassed that they’ve purchased popular TikTok products like Amazon “butt lift” leggings, pink sauce, or ring lights.

But what is most disturbing is that this young generation seems to have a spending problem in general. About a third of Gen Z spend more money than they make, while not spending nearly the same amount budget Not at all, compared to 25% of all respondents, according to a Bread Financial study.

On the other hand, baby boomers are more budget-conscious and less likely to fall victim to unconventional fads—here are some lessons their younger counterparts can take from them.

Be more determined to spend

It’s important for young Americans to be more thoughtful and thoughtful when it comes to their daily spending, says Nick Antonelli, senior vice president and chief marketing officer at Post Financial.

These small online purchases may seem inconsequential, he explains, but people often don’t realize how frequent they can be—or how they can add up over time.

Meanwhile, according to the Bread Financial study, boomers are less likely to make impulse purchases and more likely to plan their expenses.

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Antonelli says planning is the first step toward making healthier financial decisions. He recommends Build a budget To keep all your purchases and plan for bigger expenses.

Debt repayment

Credit Karma recently analyzed credit card usage by generation. And while Gen Z may be carrying the smallest amount of debt, it’s accumulating it faster than any other generation — with an average of 3% increase in balances between May and December 2022, according to Credit Karma. a report. Meanwhile, over the same period, baby boomers avoided a significant increase in their debt, with the smallest increase of all generations at 1.11%.

However, regardless of age, dealing with credit card debt is a top priority. Once you clear that credit card balance, you won’t have to worry about piling up high interest on your monthly bills anymore and you can free up space to save or spend on the things you need.

And it has an impact on your entire financial picture: A lower debt-to-income ratio also boosts your credit score – meaning, which means that you will appear more reliable to a potential lender when applying for more credit or loans, such as a mortgage.

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Depending on your situation, there are a number of ways to deal with your debt. You might start with the highest interest debt first and work your way down or do the opposite by getting rid of the smaller debt first.

Another option if you’re having trouble keeping track of your various lines of credit is to transfer all of your balances to a file Low interest consolidation loan.

If you are feeling overwhelmed, it may be helpful to consult a Qualified professional advisor To help you on the fastest path to financial freedom.

Start planning for the long term

Many baby boomers may have already entered their golden years — but how did they get there? through preparation. So if Generation Z wants to retire comfortably one day, they better start building their wealth now.

If you are not sure where to start, Do your researchOr create a brokerage account or try an investment app and develop a diversified and balanced portfolio.

Even if you don’t have thousands of dollars to unload in an investment account, you can Start small For only a few dollars. The earlier you start, the sooner you can watch the magic of compound interest grow your balance over time.

Alternatively, if you might need that cash at some point, another option is to store some of your paychecks in a file. High yield savings account to earn interest, or a certificate of deposit (CD).

A high interest savings account can come with an interest rate of 4% (compared to a traditional savings account, which is usually only 0.30%). And some CDs now offer even greater returns.

Antonelli recommends starting out by opening an account and scheduling in small increments based on your personal cash flow and financial situation. Automatic deposits are another great way to stay on track – you can always adjust the amount when your income or priorities change.

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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.