Millennial Money Habits

According to a recent study, the financial activities of today’s young adults (ages 23-37) include the following:

• One in four millennials are concerned about not having enough money saved.
• Over 70 percent of these young people believe their generation overspends, and 64 percent believe that their generation is bad at managing money.
• Over 60 percent of millennials are saving, and 67 percent are consistent in working toward a savings goal.

These money attitudes and behaviors are reported in the fifth edition of our Better Money Habits Millennial Report, with these additional findings:

• A reported 73 of millennials who have a budget, stay within their budget every month or most months.
• Nearly half (47 percent) of millennials have $15,000 or more in savings.
• While 16 percent millennials have $100,000 or more in savings.

Millennial parents are sensitive to child-raising costs. While older generations report that finances weren’t a main factor in the decision to have children, millennial parents believe the opposite. While many are paying off their own student loans, nearly a quarter of older millennials are saving for their children’s education.

For additional information on money habits of millennials, click here.

Teaching Suggestions

• Have students talk to friends to obtain information about their budgeting and saving habits.
• Have students locate and report on an app that would help guide their spending and saving activities.

Discussion Questions 

1. What attitudes and behaviors did you learn when you were young that influence your spending and saving habits today?
2. Based on these research results, what money management suggestions would you offer to others?