Key Findings:

  • Three in four Americans (75%) say they’ve become more careful with money, with caution especially strong among Baby Boomers (81%) and Gen X (77%).
  • A third of Gen Z (37%) and Millennials (34%) say they plan to save more in the next year, compared to just 18% of Baby Boomers.
  • Fewer than half of Americans (43%) consider themselves financially secure. Gen X reports the highest insecurity, with 54% saying they don’t feel financially secure.

As inflation and cost-of-living concerns remain top of mind, new data from YouGov Profiles offers insight into how Americans are navigating their finances—particularly when it comes to saving.

Nearly half of U.S. adults say they are dissatisfied with their current income, including 18% who are very dissatisfied and another 26% who are dissatisfied. Discontent is most pronounced among 21% of Gen Xers and 20% of Millennials say they are very dissatisfied, compared to 14% of Baby Boomers.

  1. Most Americans say they’ve become more cautious with money

Three in four Americans (75%) say they are more careful with their finances than they used to be. This includes 32% who definitely agree and 43% who tend to agree. Caution appears relatively consistent across generations, though it slightly increases among Baby Boomers (81%) and Gen X (77%) compared to Millennials (72%) and Gen Z (69%).

Only 13% of Americans say they disagree with the idea that they’ve become more financially careful.

  1. Gen Z and Millennials are leading the push to save more

Intentions to save more money in the next year are strongest among younger adults. Over one-third of Gen Z (37%) and Millennials (34%) definitely agree they plan to save more, compared to 28% of Gen X and just 18% of Baby Boomers.

Still, “tend to agree” responses are steady across generations — 40% across the board— suggesting that the general desire to save is widespread.

3. Financial security remains elusive, especially for Gen X

Less than half of Americans consider themselves financially secure. Around 43% agree with the statement but at the same time, 44% disagree.

Gen X reports the highest levels of insecurity, with 54% not considering themselves secure. Millennials (43%) and Baby Boomers (41%) report lower but still significant levels of disagreement. These figures indicate that financial insecurity isn’t confined to an age group.

4. Financial worries go beyond emergencies

Financial anxiety isn’t limited to long-term goals. Many Americans, especially younger ones, worry they won’t be able to afford small luxuries. Over half of Gen Z (53%) and Millennials (53%) say they’re worried they’ll never be able to save for a “treat day.” That concern drops sharply among older adults: only 32% of Baby Boomers feel the same.

Rainy-day savings also remain a concern. More than half of Millennials (52%) and 44% of Gen Z say they’re worried they won’t be able to save for an emergency, compared to 28% of Gen X and 21% of Baby Boomers.

5. Younger Americans more likely to use tricks to limit spending

Roughly two-thirds of Americans (62%) say they feel confident about making and sticking to a budget. This sense of confidence is relatively consistent across generations.

However, when it comes to specific tactics for limiting spending, generational differences emerge. About one in five Americans (22%) say they move money between accounts as a way to discourage themselves from overspending. This behavior is more common among younger adults: 32% of Gen Z and 29% of Millennials use this strategy, compared to 18% of Gen X and just 6% of Baby Boomers.

Despite its popularity among younger groups, most Americans (65%) say they don’t use this approach at all.

6. Debt stress is widespread

Around a quarter of Gen Z and Millennials (25% each) have outstanding unsecured debts between $10,000 and $49,999. A combined 82% of Americans say they find the idea of being in debt stressful. This stress is particularly common among Gen Z (50% “definitely agree”) and Millennials (48%). But Gen X (46%) and Baby Boomers (42%) follow closely.

The widespread financial anxiety and cautious spending habits—especially among younger Americans—underscore the need for financial institutions to expand education around saving, budgeting, and debt management.

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Methodology: YouGov Profiles is based on continuously collected data through rolling surveys, rather than a single limited questionnaire. Figures are drawn from responses collected between August 24, 2024 and August 24, 2025, using a 52-week dataset updated weekly. Data is nationally representative of adults (18+) in the US and weighted by age, gender, education, region, and race.

Image: Getty Images