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When it comes to money, we should all take notes on these Gen Z habits

by Jacqi Levy
    Download the report: Gen Z spending habits before and during COVID-19

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    When you think of Gen Z vs Millennials, what do you think? Which group do you think is the most frugal? Which is more mindful about where they spend their money? And who can we stand to learn the most from?

    The truth about Gen Z and their money probably isn’t what you first thought. While it’s true they do spend a lot of their time on their phones–their spending choices are more strategic than we think.

    Gen Z characteristics are surprisingly conservative when it comes to money. They’re more careful and sometimes traditional than you’d think – traits they’ve learned from growing up in tough times. They watched their parents struggle their way through the Recession of 2008, so they’re practical when it comes to the economy, debt, and their future success. In fact, a UNiDAYS survey of over 1,800 Gen Z students makes it clear that growing up during a global financial crisis has had a major impact on Gen Z spending habits.

    Josh Rathour, CEO and Co-Founder of UNiDAYS, walked through the survey results at the Money 20/20 conference in Las Vegas. Here’s what we learned:

    Gen Z chooses side hustles over serious debt

    While the majority of millennials embrace debt as a part of life, Gen Z is more mindful of it. With 26 percent of Gen Z college students surveyed expecting to graduate with no debt at all and an additional 26 percent expecting to graduate with less than $25,000 in debt, it’s clear that Gen Z has learned from the millennial generation’s debt-filled pitfalls.

    Students today are even willing to put in work in order to avoid debt. In fact, 73 percent of undergrad students have a job or side hustle in order to help pay for their education and expenses. Not only are Gen Zers avoiding loans, but they’re also choosing majors that will yield practical, generously-paying jobs, as opposed to the ‘follow your passion’ millennial generation.

    Gen Zers are careful when it comes to credit

    Gen Z’s conservative ways continue when it comes to consumer credit. For big purchases, 83 percent of Gen Zers surveyed said they save up rather than using credit. In fact, over half of them don’t even have a credit card. Of those, 61 percent plan to apply for one, but the vast majority will apply mainly to establish a credit score. In this way, they are also very different from their millennial predecessors.

    Mom and dad have sway over Zs’ financial decisions

    The notion of defiant, rebellious teens falls flat when it comes to student finances. Although  as we noted, many of them don’t have a credit card, 72 percent do have a savings or checking account. So how did they decide which bank to open an account with?  61 percent went with their parents’ bank.

    And once Zs have chosen a bank, it’s not the easiest task to get them to switch. Of Gen Zers who have a bank account, 54 percent don’t plan to open another account no matter the incentive. This speaks to the influence parents have over their offspring, as well as the stickiness of those early financial decisions.

    Gen Z is mobile-first, but not mobile-only

    When it comes to accessing their accounts online, students clearly prefer their smartphones over other devices. But surprisingly, 45 percent of ‘digital native’ Gen Zers would not consider banking with FinTechs that are online only, as they prefer banks that also have physical locations. We won’t go as far to say Gen Zers aren’t open to non-traditional ways of banking, but clearly, the jury is still out on Fintechs.

    Gen Z cares whether or not you care

    Perhaps most importantly, Zs are very concerned about business integrity. 93 percent say it’s important for them to bank with ethical companies that give back. To emphasize this point, given a choice between two companies, 86 percent would choose the one that’s more ethical, even if the incentive is lower. The most successful Gen Z brands are ones that have won their trust.

    We can all learn from Gen Z when it comes to money

    Growing up with the financial crisis in their rearview mirror and internet at their fingertips, Gen Z are both cautious with finances and pros at finding deals. They understand value and want to get the most out of their money. We could all learn a thing or two from Gen Z when it comes to money and how to save it.

    Interested in understanding what else is motivating Gen Z’s financial decisions? Download our white paper: “Gen Z and Money: What you need to know”.

    Download the Gen Z Money White paper here.

      Download the report: Gen Z spending habits before and during COVID-19

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