New survey from Intuit reveals Gen Z finds politics and sex easier to talk about than finances, and how the “soft life” TikTok trend is shaping the way they save … or don’t save
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Generation Z, the first generation of digital natives who are more than twice as likely* to compare themselves to others on social media, feel like they are falling behind their peers financially, according to a new survey by Intuit (Nasdaq: INTU), the global financial technology platform that makes TurboTax, Credit Karma, QuickBooks, and Mailchimp.
Just as heavily doctored images of beauty on Instagram contribute to insecurities, “filtered finances” are having a massive impact on 18 to 25-year-olds. Increasingly, honest conversations around formerly taboo subjects are the norm. But new data shows that Gen Z would rather talk about politics, parenting struggles, sex, and infertility than debt, their salaries, and bad investments. In fact, despite their modern lives, they are part of the 50% of Americans who would rather talk to their children about sex than speak to them about their own finances.
Survey data also identified a new trend: “soft saving”—the financial spinoff of the boundary-setting “soft life” trend focused on comfort and minimizing stress. Currently taking over TikTok feeds, this philosophy extends to money. A stark departure from the FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) movement, hustle culture, and the Girlboss ethos dominating the past decade, Gen Z is embracing “soft saving.” Nearly 3 in 4 Gen Zers say they would rather have a better quality of life than extra money in the bank. In fact, experiences matter more than money to Gen Z, as 66% say they are only interested in finances as a means to support their current interests.
Gen Z has more access to financial information than any other generation, but this doesn’t always translate into decision-making. From financial tips on TikTok to Reddit forums on investing, the survey illustrates that Gen Z is frequently paralyzed by conflicting advice and could benefit from new ways to save:
“The economic shocks of the last few years have transformed how Gen Z views success, and this survey revealed that prosperity means something different to everyone, particularly Zoomers,” said Brittney Castro, Intuit consumer financial advocate. “At Intuit, we believe that everyone should have the ability to prosper—however they define that for themselves. Intuit is delivering innovative and personalized financial solutions through TurboTax, Credit Karma, QuickBooks and Mailchimp that our customers need to make more money, save time, and build confidence.”
Additional survey findings include:
Full survey results can be viewed here. For more information on Intuit and how the company is helping its customers make more money, save time, and build confidence when it comes to their personal or business finances, visit www.intuit.com.
*Statistics from 2022 Intuit survey of 2,000 US consumers ages 18+. Gen Z is more than twice as likely to compare themselves to others on social media (32% vs. 14% US general population).
Survey methodology
The Intuit Prosperity Index Survey was conducted Dec. 2-9, 2022, via a 15-minute online questionnaire. Intuit surveyed 2,000 Americans ages 18+, plus an additional oversample of Gen Z (ages 18-25) to discover current attitudes around money and personal finance.
About Intuit
Intuit is the global financial technology platform that powers prosperity for the people and communities we serve. With more than 100 million customers worldwide using TurboTax, Credit Karma, QuickBooks, and Mailchimp, we believe that everyone should have the opportunity to prosper. We never stop working to find new, innovative ways to make that possible. Please visit us for the latest information about Intuit, our products and services, and find us on social.
Intuit
Karen Nolan
karen_nolan@intuit.com