Budgeting or Balling? Uncover the percentage of Gen Z flying budget-free each month.

Answer: about 30%

Questions:

• Why is it important to create a monthly budget at any age?
• What budgeting categories do you typically plan for? Why?
• Which budgeting items would you consider a need?
• Which budgeting items would you consider a want?

Click here for the ready-to-go slides for this Question of the Day that you can use in your classroom.

Behind the numbers (WalletHub):

Key Stats

• Confidence Crash. Gen Z is the least financially confident generation, as more than 1 in 4 Gen Zers say they are not confident in their financial knowledge and skills.
• Gen Z seems averse to risk. 57% of Gen Zers think savings accounts are the best way to invest their money, while 46% of Baby Boomers say investing in stocks is a better option.
• Different age groups have different struggles. 48% of Baby Boomers say inflation is holding them back more than their income, debt, and housing costs, compared to only 39% of Gen Zers.
• Some young people lack budgets. Almost 30% of Gen Zers don’t have a budget for managing their monthly expenses.
• Good examples are important. Over 34% of Gen Zers say their parents did not set a good example for them financially - more than any other generation.
• Generations look to different sources of insight. While most Baby Boomers (60%) prefer a financial professional as their go-to source for financial advice, Gen Zers (39%) prefer a family member.

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For more resources, check out the NGPF Unit on Budgeting.

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About the Author

Mason Butts

After graduating from UCLA with a Master's in Education, Mason spent 5 years as a science educator in a South Los Angeles public high school. He is committed to supporting the holistic growth of all students and empowering them to live a life of relational, academic, and financial success. Now settled in the Bay Area, Mason enjoys facilitating professional developments and partnering with educators as they prepare students for a bright financial future. When Mason is not building curriculum or planning a training, he can be found cycling, trying new foods, and exploring the outdoors.