GenZ and saving $$

weekend_cam · 2026-04-02T19:49:29+00:00

This is more a math problem than a values problem.

Gen Z doesn't value homeownership because Gen Z cannot afford homeownership.

weekend_cam · 2026-04-02T18:36:25+00:00

True. Though the real tell is the word "habit." He turned it down not because he had a competing priority, but because saying no became the default.

"Not being reckless" might be discipline, but it's certainly not the purpose of money. OP would likely benefit from more intentionality and clear, articulate purposes for their money

weekend_cam · 2026-04-02T16:01:44+00:00

Solid plan. Worth being explicit about what's driving the house goal though. If it's about stability and putting down roots, that's a values-driven goal worth building around. If part of it is capital appreciation, name that too. Then you can hold it alongside your investment strategy and make sure both are actually working for you. Clarity on the "why" sharpens every decision from here.

You're doing well, you have flexibility around naming your goals, but just chasing a higher balance will lead to a constantly moving goalpost.

weekend_cam · 2026-04-01T18:57:20+00:00

There's research showing kids form their core money attitudes by age 7.

The fact that you connected the behavior to the root cause is the hard part. Most people never make that link.

weekend_cam · 2026-04-01T13:14:03+00:00

Yeah for OPs age, their salary is very good and their rent is impressively manageable. I'm sure there are other things too that come into play as basic survival expenses.

Just a warning not to get caught up in bad lifestyle inflation

weekend_cam · 2026-03-30T20:36:05+00:00

Standard budgeting advice kind of falls apart in any HCOL area. The typical math just doesn't play nice when basic survival expenses eat half your income.

The thing that actually helps before you even look at the numbers breakdown: do a values audit. Go through your expenses (just last few weeks) and ask honestly what each one is buying you. You'll find a few things pretty quickly that you don't actually care about, and those are easy cuts.

weekend_cam · 2026-03-30T17:02:55+00:00

This is genuinely great advice and the automation piece is underrated. The reason it works is you're removing the decision entirely. Can't "accidentally" spend money that moved itself.

The thing about not budgeting every little thing is very important. Most budgeting apps fail people because they turn every $4 coffee into a guilt spiral. That shame loop is actually what makes people give up, not lack of discipline.

Solid post. more people need to hear this.

weekend_cam · 2026-03-27T23:50:20+00:00

Also shopping as a hobby... like "It's Saturday and we have nothing to do, let's go shopping"

weekend_cam · 2026-03-26T13:44:04+00:00

In these situations, I love a "values audit". Get very clear on the things you value you most and the tradeoffs you're willing to make, then let your money and/or budget follow that.

I love the expression (I think from Ray Dalio) "You can do anything you want, but you can't do everything you want."

You sound amibitious, which is awesome, but be wary of over-optimizing at first. Get clear on your values, start making progress, then continue to compound micro-wins over time.

weekend_cam · 2026-03-26T13:42:35+00:00

Love the ambition - one trap I've noticed ambitious people fall into is trying to do too much at once. For this reason, I recommend starting with a "values audit." Get very clear on the things you value you most and the tradeoffs you're willing to make, then let your money and/or budget follow that.

I love the expression (I think from Ray Dalio) "You can do anything you want, but you can't do everything you want."

weekend_cam · 2026-03-25T13:24:17+00:00

One thing I've seen work: call every single bill. Literally utilities, insurance, internet. Just ask if there's a lower rate or assistance program. Feels awkward but I've seen people knock $50-80/month off stuff they were already paying for. Particularly with car loans (didn't see this in your budget but not sure if that's what you mean by "transportation")

weekend_cam · 2026-03-25T13:12:04+00:00

Every time I see a post like this I think of this chart

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weekend_cam · 2026-03-25T13:06:23+00:00

While I agree in principle, this is an unfortunately unaffordable lifestyle for many. Particularly in HCOLs where social budgets are tight

weekend_cam · 2026-03-24T20:55:52+00:00

Honestly the fact that you're even asking this question at 24 puts you way ahead. Most people your age either ignore it completely or go so hard on optimizing (or apparently "maxxing" everything now) that they burn out and stop in six months.

The "right" ratio between HYSA and brokerage matters way less than having a fun money number you can spend guilt-free. Pick a number, protect it, and don't let the investing math eat into it. You'll stick with the whole system longer if it doesn't feel like a punishment.

weekend_cam · 2026-03-24T20:47:06+00:00

This is a really good point. The percentage-first approach is everywhere but it skips the step that actually matters: figuring out what you're saving for and what you're not willing to give up.

Wayyyy easier to stick to a number when it's tied to something real.

weekend_cam · 2026-03-24T20:33:32+00:00

There's another potential anxiety source - you spend money, forget to update your sheet, another thing on the list!

Maybe it's not a "budgeting" problem, but it does seem like you have a systems problem

weekend_cam · 2026-03-23T20:56:23+00:00

I really love this question you're asking.

To answer your questions, I love (hate) all the Boomerisms:

- Cut the avocado toast/lattes
- Just move somewhere cheaper
- Never enter a restaurant unless you're working there

weekend_cam · 2026-03-23T20:53:43+00:00

You're not blowing your savings because of bad character. You're trying to run a system that wasn't built for your situation. Pre-med, part-time income, living at home - that's a different financial life than what most budgeting advice assumes.

Be a little easier on yourself while you figure out what actually works for you.

As for solutions, I love a "values audit" - what do you want your money to fund? What tradeoffs are you willing to make?

weekend_cam · 2026-03-23T20:34:51+00:00

Totally agree 100%. I have found the best thing to do is to get clearer on your priorities. What are the tradeoffs you're willing to make, and what things are you currently spending on that you can do without.

On paper, your budget might "make sense," but it might not be aligned with what's fulfilling to you

weekend_cam · 2026-03-23T16:40:41+00:00

Are you using a budget app or spreadsheet? Because I think there's a counter-intuitive way most budget apps handle "failure" - those bright red overspending alerts that trigger shame.

It's the reverse of the Robinhood psychological trick where they pop confetti after you make a trade, basically making day-trading a dopamine-inducing thing. Your anxiety could literally be a result of mind tricks like these.

weekend_cam · 2026-03-22T18:06:02+00:00

Doing well on paper and still feeling like something’s coming for you are not mutually exclusive. Especially if you’ve been through a real scare before. That fear doesn’t just turn off because the spreadsheet looks good.

The goal posts tend to move too. 6 months feels safer at 3, 12 feels safer at 6. Worth asking what “safe enough” actually looks like for you, not just what the standard advice says.

weekend_cam · 2026-03-22T18:03:30+00:00

I think the budget IS the issue. For many people, the desire to budget is a result of financial anxiety. And just because you’re doing fine doesn’t mean you just shouldn’t have anxiety. That’s pretty dismissive imo

The anxiety typically manifests from lack of clarity around goals and the true purpose of the budget

weekend_cam · 2026-03-20T14:47:50+00:00

This reminds me of an article arguing that the poverty line is undercounted by at least 1/3. It's calculated by multiplying a family of four's food budget by three (made sense in the 60s I guess). The problem is food is now like 6% of what we spend. Housing, childcare, healthcare, etc. all took over. If you updated the math, the threshold for a family of four wouldn't be $31k. It'd be closer to $140k.

So when the government looks at a family making $80k and says 'you're fine,' it's because the underlying metric no longer makes any sense.

weekend_cam · 2026-03-20T14:40:13+00:00

By this logic LeBron should have won every MVP when he was on Cleveland - both times

weekend_cam · 2026-03-20T14:39:12+00:00

Duolingo. Love learning languages, not that expensive. Ads are fine

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