One thing is now almost certain, being a human from the Gen Z era offers a lot of perks.
As a member of Generation Z myself, I can confidently say that we face significant financial challenges.
With the exorbitant costs of homeownership, many young people's dream of becoming landlords remains just that – a dream.
Due to these expensive costs, more and more Gen Z individuals are choosing to invest in digital assets rather than real estate to hold value.
Gen Z's Biggest Financial Roadblock: Homeownership Dreams on Hold
You know that feeling of wanting to own your place, but the housing market keeps laughing in your face? Yeah, that's been the story for many Gen Zers.
With high-interest rates, stagnant incomes, and a shortage of affordable homes, homeownership sometimes feels like a distant dream.
According to a survey by Policygenius and YouGov, a meager 13% of Gen Zers (ages 18 to 26) own real estate. Can you believe that? It's like we're stuck in a never-ending game of musical chairs, but the chairs keep disappearing!
While we might be struggling with traditional investments like real estate, there's one area where Gen Z is leading the pack: cryptocurrency.
Yep, 20% of us own some form of crypto, which is higher than our ownership of stocks (18%), real estate (that pesky 13% again), and bonds (11%).
It's like we've traded in our piggy banks for digital wallets, chasing after those elusive crypto gains.
Millennials: Slightly More Traditional, but Still Crypto-Curious
Now, let's talk about our slightly older cousins, the millennials (ages 27 to 42). They're a bit more inclined towards traditional investments, with 27% owning stocks and 24% investing in real estate.
But don't think they're completely stuck in the past—22% of millennials are also crypto owners. It's like they've got one foot in the traditional investment world and the other dipping into crypto waters.
Baby Boomers: Old-School Investors but Not Totally Crypto-Averse
Ah, the baby boomers—the generation that witnessed the birth of modern investing as we know it.
Unsurprisingly, they still stick to their tried-and-true methods, with the highest ownership of stocks (33%) and real estate (45%).
But you know what's interesting? Even a small sliver of baby boomers (5%) have dipped their toes into the crypto pool. Sure, it's not a massive number, but it shows that even the oldies are starting to catch on to the digital asset craze.
Here's a mind-boggling stat for you: Gen Z and millennials are more than twice as likely to turn to social media first with a financial question compared to older generations. It's like we're getting our money advice from TikTok influencers and Instagram gurus!
But hey, if those "infinite banking" and no-spend challenge hacks work, who are we to judge? After all, desperate times call for creative measures, right?
The Emotional Side of Money Management
You know what they say—money can't buy happiness, but it can cause stress and anxiety.
The survey revealed that while 31% of baby boomers feel proud of how they manage their finances, only 23% of Gen Zers share that same sense of pride.
And can you blame us? We're navigating a world where everything seems to cost an arm and a leg, and the traditional paths to financial security seem more like uphill battles. But you know what? We're resilient, we're adaptable, and we're not giving up on our dreams just yet.
A peek into the unique financial struggles and investment trends of Gen Z. It might not be the rosiest picture, but hey, at least we're keeping things interesting, right?
Here's to hoping we can turn those crypto gains into real estate riches someday (a girl can dream!)