People Raised In The 70s & 80s Refuse To Spend Money On 8 Things Gen Z Views As Essential
Ground Picture | Shutterstock Money habits shift through generations, so do their spending patterns. People raised in the '70s and '80s may refuse to spend money on certain things because of how they were raised or socialized in young adulthood.
However, these purchases are the kinds of things Gen Zers consider essential. From coffee shop trips to influencer-marketed items, their spending priorities couldn’t be more different.
Things '70s and '80s kids will never buy that Gen Z views as essential:
1. Regular food delivery
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For Gen Zers who are collectively behind in cooking skills compared to older generations, of course, they’re more likely to spend on convenience foods and delivery. It’s become a micro-experience in their lives, not necessarily to save time, but to curate a small luxury.
Compared to '70s and '80s kids who were taught not only to do chores but also to develop a sense of pride in doing inconvenient tasks like cooking for themselves, they’re wildly different. For Gen Z, convenience feels essential, even for dinners and meals, but for people raised a few decades earlier, it’s nowhere near a necessity.
2. More than a couple streaming services
Gen Zers are major consumers of online entertainment and content, but they also spend the most on paid subscriptions and streaming services. According to a Talker Research survey, the average Gen Zer spends more than $100 a month on streaming services alone. It’s part of their routine, and for many, having access to the entertainment they want, when they want it, is a little luxury they’re not willing to sacrifice.
While the 40-plus crowd does appreciate investing in quality goods and services, they’re much less motivated to have a ton of streaming services. Many have one or two, but having all of them is not essential.
3. Fast fashion
Much like their entertainment spending and eating habits, Gen Zers tend to value convenience in their clothing, despite being somewhat passionate about sustainability in many other parts of their lives. Yes, they may avoid brands with tons of plastic packaging, but overnight Amazon deliveries and online shopping are still part of their expenses.
Instead of prioritizing trends and popularity, Gen Xers and older millennials prefer to save their money to invest in quality pieces and reliable clothing.
4. Buy now, pay later services
Buy now, pay later apps like Klarna and Affirm are huge expenses for many younger generations who are overspending on micro-experiences and goods, instead of saving and investing for larger purchases. Even though it forces many Gen Zers into debt before they have a chance to save any money, many keep falling into the trap to keep up with new trends or to feel caught up with their peers.
However, older generations have been socialized to avoid debt as much as possible. Paying off credit cards and attacking their student loans are a priority, and they’re willing to sacrifice spending in the present moment to save. They basically refuse to justify spending when they don’t have the money.
5. Gaming and content from creators
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Whether it’s paying for a subscription to a live streamer on Twitch or using in-app purchases on their phones, Gen Z’s expenses around content feel necessary, despite being something most people raised in the '70s and '80s avoid completely.
These are the small parts of their daily lives that supplement the sense of community and belonging they’ve lost as third spaces continue to deteriorate. The middle-aged crowd is much more likely to invest in in-person social interaction, even if that means paying for dinner or coffee.
6. Minimum payments
More than half of Gen Zers are only making minimum payments on their debt, whether that’s student loans or credit cards, every month. However, Gen Xers and Xennials, with more financial security, are adamant about paying more and getting rid of the debt they were socialized to hate from a young age.
People raised in the '70s and '80s are making debt payments in excess of the minimum because they’re wired more toward a sacrifice mindset. They also know it makes more sense in the long run.
7. Casual therapy visits
For so many Gen Zers who are destigmatizing mental health, seeing a therapist is simply a part of their routine. It’s much more casual than it seems to older generations still battling mental health stigma, and they’re willing to spend quite a bit every month to maintain the relationship and protect that space to speak on their emotions and experiences.
On the other hand, Gen Xers were socialized by their upbringing and parents to avoid their emotions. The hustle culture of their upbringing and early adult years required emotional suppression, even though it often led to burnout. While many older generations are seeing therapists, the casual expense of seeing them, even when nothing is technically wrong, is not necessarily a priority.
8. Daily coffee shop trips
Many young people are ridiculed for complaining about the economy while buying coffee out of the house every day. It’s the avocado toast rhetoric, where it’s easier to blame young people for spending on little things that make their lives better than to address societal barriers they’ve faced in young adulthood.
These are the small things that are important for young people, especially when these coffee shops and outings are building a sense of community they’ve been missing. However, for more frugal Gen Xers willing to sacrifice to save and invest, it’s just not a priority. Most have a fancy coffee machine at home that does the trick anyway.
9. Regular fitness classes
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There’s no denying that Gen Xers and millennials are big spenders on gym memberships and fitness. However, their priorities look different.
Yes, they might go to a specialized fitness class or space, but compared to Gen Z, who also use these spaces for community and belonging, it’s less of a priority. They don't need the bells and whistles; they just want to work out and leave. Gen Z wants to hang out at the gym.
Zayda Slabbekoorn is a senior editorial strategist with a bachelor’s degree in social relations & policy and gender studies who focuses on psychology, relationships, self-help, and human interest stories.
