Financial Anxiety Is At an All-Time High

Most people wouldn’t agree to work 30 unpaid hours a week. But for millions of Americans, that’s effectively what financial anxiety has become. Between bills, inflation, and rising costs, money stress is taking up serious mental space. 

The average person now spends nearly four hours a day thinking about money. For Gen Z, that climbs to nearly five hours — more time than most people spend eating or exercising. Millennials aren’t far behind, clocking in at 4.73 hours a day, followed by Gen X at 3.74. Even Boomers, who report the least financial stress, still average 2.4 hours daily. And more than half of Americans say they’re thinking about money more often than they were last year.

Quality-of-life costs tend to dominate these thoughts. Things like bills (57%), inflation (51%), housing (34%), debt (30%), and even tariffs (28%). Retirement is another common concern: 55% of Americans think about it at least weekly, and among high-income earners, 1 in 4 say it’s on their mind multiple times a day. Unsurprisingly, that kind of mental load can take a toll. Over a third of adults say money keeps them up at night, and nearly 40% report that it affects their focus during the day. Across generations, the stress takes different shapes — Gen Z and Millennials tend to worry about job stability and housing costs; Gen X and Boomers are more focused on retirement savings, investment performance, and emergency funds.

In theory, this level of stress should cool spending, but that’s not entirely what we’re seeing. While some surveys suggest people are pulling back — cooking at home more, skipping non-essentials — bank data shows card spending is still rising. The truth might be somewhere in between. People may be making “micro-cuts”: skipping one dinner out, holding off on a purchase, or delaying a trip, not full-on austerity, but small moves to feel more in control.

This isn’t exactly good news, but there is a silver lining: stress often sparks the motivation necessary for improvement. Nearly a quarter of Americans adjust their spending habits each month in response to financial concerns, a third say they’re focused on growing their money, and nearly as many are thinking seriously about long-term financial security. Around 35% say they take steps to improve their finances when worries arise, with Millennials being the most proactive — 40% say they act on those thoughts. Those efforts are paying off, too. One in five Americans say they’ve significantly improved their credit score as a result, while another 20% have paid off meaningful debt, and nearly as many have successfully built a working budget or spending plan.

So what would actually help ease the pressure? Here’s what Americans say would make the biggest difference:

• A higher income (47%)

• Lower living expenses (45%)

• A more stable economy (29%)

• Paying off debt (28%)

• A larger emergency fund (24%)

But even without those changes, many are finding ways to lighten the mental load—like seeking out financial education, tracking their spending more closely, or finally having a real conversation about their goals.

Want more insights like this delivered to your inbox every week? Subscribe to our newsletter below ⬇️

Subscribe to The Gist(opens in new window)