Loud Budgeting & Gen Z Money Slang
For this generation, finance isn’t just about numbers, it’s about culture, language, memes, and even therapy. From loud budgeting to doom spending to cash stuffing, Gen Z has created a whole vocabulary around money that is equal parts funny, honest, and relatable. These new words aren’t just internet jokes. They capture real financial behaviours and the emotional weight of living through uncertain times. In this article we will reveal how younger people are trying to balance survival, fun, and authenticity in a world that often feels stacked against them.
The Rise of Loud Budgeting
The term “loud budgeting” first went viral on TikTok in late 2023 when comedian Lukas Battle declared that “loud budgeting is in, quiet luxury is out.” The video gained more than 1.5 million views, and suddenly people were openly saying what past generations kept private.
- “I’m not going out tonight, my budget doesn’t allow it.”
- “That trip looks amazing, but I’m saving for rent instead.”
Loud budgeting is about loudly owning your financial boundaries instead of quietly making excuses. It takes the shame out of saying “no,” and turns it into a statement of empowerment. Rather than pretending you’re too busy to join a fancy dinner, you can confidently say you don’t want to blow $80 on sushi when you’re trying to save for something else.
This honesty is refreshing and fits a broader cultural move toward talking about mental health, therapy, and now money.
· From a Bank of America / Ipsos survey of U.S. Gen Z (ages 18–27). 38% feel okay declining social events because they can’t afford them. Part of being “loud” about budgeting and financial limits.
· 63% say they do not feel pressured by friends to overspend, suggesting louder, more open boundaries are helping reduce social spending pressure.
· Searches for “loud budgeting” have spiked 1,637% internationally and 765% in the U.S.
· A Business Insider survey indicated that one-third of Gen Zs say they are “loud budgeters,” saving an average of US$629 per month through being open about their financial boundaries with friends and family.
Doom Spending, When Anxiety Hits Your Wallet
On the flip side of frugality, we get “doom spending.” This phrase describes the act of buying things to cope with stress, climate anxiety, politics, or just the crushing uncertainty of the future.
Think of it as retail therapy with an apocalyptic twist: “The world feels like it’s falling apart, so I might as well buy the concert tickets, the new sneakers, or that extra latte.”
It’s a bit YOLO (You Only Live Once) only with your money. A McKinsey survey showed that Gen Z and millennials are more likely than older generations to engage in this behaviour, even though on average they earn and save less. It’s emotional spending, but also a way of reclaiming joy in uncertain times.
· A survey by Intuit Credit Karma found that 35% of Gen Z and 43% of Millennials report “doom spending” to cope with stress about things like the economy or current events.
Discover the doom spending trend on TikTok.
Cash Stuffing, Old School Meets TikTok
Then there’s “cash stuffing.” If this sounds like something your grandma did, that’s because it is. But now it’s trending on TikTok and Instagram.
Check out this cash stuffing video by @budgetswithbeth
It works like this. You withdraw your paycheck in cash, then divide it into envelopes labelled “rent,” “groceries,” “fun,” “savings,” and so on. Once an envelope is empty, that category is done for the month.
Why does Gen Z love this retro strategy?
- It makes money feel real in a digital world, where swiping a card or tapping a phone feels abstract.
- It creates visible limits so when the “fun” envelope is empty, you stop.
- It fits perfectly into the ASMR/organisation aesthetic of TikTok videos (we do kind of love it too!)
This is an interesting trend because while fintech apps promise slick dashboards, AI-powered insights, and digital wallets, the cash stuffing trend flips that on its head. Instead of trusting an algorithm to categorise transactions, Gen Z is literally stuffing envelopes with bills, a method that predates mobile banking by decades. It’s almost rebellious in its simplicity. No fees, no screens, no data collection. In a way, it’s the anti-fintech, proof that sometimes, managing money isn’t about more technology, but about stripping it away. It may also reflect a lack of trust in the banking sector, something we frequently talk about.
Soft Savings, Balance Over Austerity
Another trending phrase is “soft savings.” Unlike hardcore savings challenges that cut out all extras, soft savings are about balance. You build a cushion but still allow yourself little joys.
For example, a worker might set aside money for rent and an emergency fund, but still budget for bubble tea or a weekend trip. It’s a way of saying: “I want to be responsible, but I don’t want to feel like I’m punishing myself for being young.” This mindset reflects a shift. Financial wellness isn’t just about maximising the bank balance. It’s about creating a lifestyle that feels sustainable, mentally and emotionally.
· A Harvard Public Opinion Project survey found that more than 40% of young Americans say they are “barely getting by” financially, while just 16% feel they are doing well or very well.
· 73% of Gen Zs said they would rather prioritise quality of life now rather than focus on aggressively saving more money.
· Also from that study, 84% of Gen Z report setting aside some portion of each paycheck into savings.
Money Dysmorphia, The Social Media Effect
Finally, there’s “money dysmorphia.” This phrase captures the distorted perception people have about their finances when they constantly compare themselves to others online. Even if you’re doing okay, scrolling through Instagram or TikTok can make you feel broke and sad. Everyone seems to be traveling, buying new clothes, or living in chic apartments and you start to believe you’re falling behind. It’s the same way body dysmorphia makes people see flaws that aren’t there. Money dysmorphia warps your financial self-image, leaving you stressed and insecure.
Watch @bonniedilber explain the concept on TikTok.
· A survey by Intuit/Credit Karma found that 43% of Gen Z and 41% of Millennials report experiencing money dysmorphia. That means they often feel insecure about their financial well-being, even when the objective situation may not justify that worry.
· The same study showed that only 25% of Gen X and 14% of respondents aged 59+ report money dysmorphia.
· Interestingly, among people who say they have money dysmorphia, many have more savings than might be expected:
~37% have more than US$10,000 in savings.
~23% have more than US$30,000 in savings.
· Of those with money dysmorphia, 82% say they feel behind financially (compared to their peers) even if their finances are in decent shape.
Why This Vocab Exists
These phrases didn’t just appear out of nowhere. They reflect the realities of Gen Z’s financial world.
- Rising living costs — Rent, food, and tuition are more expensive than ever. In the US, 63% of Gen Z renters spend over 31% of their income on housing, and one in four spends more than half.
- Economic uncertainty — Inflation, recessions, and volatile job markets leave young people unsure if traditional financial goals like owning a home are even possible.
- Social Media FOMO — Previous generations may have looked at their neighbour’s new car and felt a little envious. But now we are watching millionaires from around the world flaunting their wealth on social media. (Plot twist, most of it is fake but knowing that doesn’t always help!)
- Mental health focus — Linking money to feelings (doom spending, dysmorphia) shows how finances and psychology are inseparable for this generation.
The Upsides and Downsides Of Gen Z Slang
The Upsides
- Breaks the taboo of talking about money.
- Encourages accountability and honesty with friends.
- Normalises different financial realities.
- Makes budgeting and saving feel creative and personal.
The Downsides
- Saying “no” too often (loud budgeting) can cause social friction.
- Doom spending can worsen debt or delay savings.
- Money dysmorphia feeds anxiety and comparison.
- Cute language can mask serious issues like stagnant wages or housing crises.
What It Means Going Forward
The fact that finance slang is trending shows how Gen Z is rewriting the rules:
- They’re making money conversations public instead of private.
- They’re balancing mental health with money health instead of chasing wealth at all costs.
- They’re using creativity and humour to cope with tough realities.
- They’re trusting their peers over financial institutions, a trend we are closely following.
Older gens might roll their eyes at these terms, but they highlight a critical truth. Financial culture isn’t just about interest rates and credit scores. It’s about feelings, community, and identity. Loud budgeting, doom spending, cash stuffing, soft savings, and money dysmorphia may be passing TikTok fads, but they point to something deeper. Gen Z is navigating the same financial storms older generations faced. Just with new tools, new platforms, and a refreshing honesty.
By rebranding financial habits with language that feels real, funny, and raw, they’re making money conversations accessible and relatable. And in a world where the cost of living keeps rising, maybe being loud about your budget isn’t just trendy, it’s necessary. And when it comes to financial marketing, a deep understanding of these trends helps us to do what we do best. Speak to us about financial marketing for your brand.
