From Buy Now Pay Later for groceries to asking a date’s net worth before the third date, a generation is rewriting the rules of personal finance in real time.
Nearly eight in ten Gen Z and Millennial Americans are using what researchers call “survival spending” to get by — relying on short-term financial strategies like Buy Now, Pay Later for essential purchases, turning to AI for budgeting guidance, and increasingly abandoning long-term financial planning altogether.
That is the central finding of new research released Monday by Beyond Finance, in partnership with financial literacy nonprofit Operation HOPE, based on a survey of 2,000 Millennial and Gen Z adults conducted in March.
Almost half — 45% — say they would put a tax refund toward bills or debt. Just under 4% would spend it on travel or leisure. More than 70% say supplemental income from side hustles is now necessary simply to keep up, and 59% say spending on meaningful experiences today feels more practical than saving for long-term goals that feel increasingly out of reach. Nearly two-thirds say they are uncertain whether traditional retirement planning will deliver real security.
Also Read: Protecting Loyal Customers From Your Own Return Policies
The findings also reveal a generational shift in where young people turn for financial guidance. Gen Z is now more likely to consult social media influencers (24%) than their own parents (21%) when refining money strategies. And financial transparency is increasingly entering the dating conversation: 73% of respondents say they want to know someone’s exact financial situation before the third date.
AI is playing a growing role as well. Some 39% say they are already using AI tools to budget or inform financial decisions, often running hypothetical scenarios before taking action. A smaller share — 16% — use apps that gamify saving and spending to reinforce financial habits.
“Gen Z and Millennials aren’t failing at money. The system they inherited has changed, and they’re responding in real time,” said Dr. Erika Rasure, chief financial wellness advisor at Beyond Finance. “What we’re seeing is a generation shifting from long-term financial ideals to daily financial practices — using windfalls to stabilize, leaning on AI to make decisions, and prioritizing what’s immediately within their control. That adaptability isn’t a weakness. It’s a new form of financial resilience.”
Also Read: The Invisible Infrastructure Behind Every Great App
John Hope Bryant, founder, chairman and CEO of Operation HOPE, framed the findings in broader terms. “Gen Z and Millennials are not walking away from success,” he said. “They are searching for a model that speaks to their lived reality, their struggle, and their hope. At Operation HOPE, we believe financial literacy is the new civil rights issue of our time — and our calling is to help this generation move from uncertainty to confidence, from surviving to thriving, and from financial stress to lasting wealth.”
The survey was conducted by QuestionPro on behalf of Beyond Finance and Operation HOPE between March 16 and 18, 2026. Respondents included 2,000 American Millennials, defined as those born between 1981 and 1996, and Gen Z adults, born between 1997 and 2008.