Gen Z: Many stuck in 'parent trap,' needing financial help from Mom and Dad, survey finds

The cost of living is hitting Generation Z. Nearly half of Gen Z adults say they get financial help from parents and family, a new survey suggests.

Almost half (46%) of Gen Z adults ages 18 to 27 said they relied on financial assistance from their parents or other family members, in the "Parent Trap" survey, released recently by Bank of America last week. Research firm Ipsos conducted the survey of more than 1,090 Gen Z adults from April 17 to May 3 for Bank of America’s Better Money Habits financial education team.The findings mirror those from an online survey in September that found that two-thirds (65%) of Gen Zers and 74% of millennials say they believe they are starting farther behind financially. That an online survey was conducted exclusively for USA TODAY by The Harris Poll.

However, about six out of 10 Gen Zers (58%), said they felt optimistic about their financial future heading into 2024, according to a Bankrate poll released in December.

Regardless, Gen Z is less likely to be saving money or putting away funds for retirement than other generations, another Bankrate survey in September found.

Gen Z cuts back over financial woes

More than half of the Gen Z respondents in the Bank of America survey (54%) said they don’t pay for their own housing. To offset cost of living expenses, many said they were cutting back on dining out (43%), skipping events with friends (27%), and shopping at more affordable grocery stores (24%).

More Gen Z women surveyed (61%) than men (44%) said the high cost of living is a barrier to financial success.“Though faced with obstacles driven by the cost of living, younger Americans are showing discipline and foresight in their saving and spending patterns,” said Holly O’Neill, president of retail banking at Bank of America, said in a news release. “It is critical that we continue to empower Gen Z to work toward achieving financial health and meeting their long-term goals.”

Gen Z and financial dependence

The cost of living is a "top barrier to financial success" for Gen Z, and more than half (52%) say they don't make enough money to live the life they want, according to the Bank of America survey. The money crunch led many surveyed to say that even though they are working toward these goals:

• They do not have enough emergency savings to cover three months of expenses (57%)
• They are not on track to buy a home (50%)
• They are not able to save for retirement (46%)
• They cannot start investing (40%)

Gen Z survey:As fall tuition bills drop, Gen Z's not ready to pay for college this year

How is Gen Z 'loud budgeting?'

To stay within their budget, many Gen Zers use "loud budgeting," telling friends what social outings they can and cannot afford, Bank of America says.

• 63% of survey respondents said they do not feel pressured by friends to overspend
• More than one-third (38%) feel comfortable passing on social opportunities and admitting they can’t afford the expense.
• They still use leftover income on dining out (36%), shopping (30%) and entertainment (24%) – higher than other generations, Bank of America says
• Gen Z women surveyed cut back on unnecessary expenses at higher rates than men, including dining out (50% of women; 37% of men) and passing on events with friends (31% of women; 24% of men)

"With the cost of living remaining high, Gen Z feels equipped to handle the basics and has taken steps to cut out unnecessary costs and avoid pressures to overspend," Bank of America says in the report.

Follow Mike Snider on X and Threads: @mikesnider & mikegsnider.

What's everyone talking about? Sign up for our trending newsletter to get the latest news of the day