Gen Z, Loud Budgeting & the New Rules of Adulting

Everyone's Talkin' Money

Shari Rash

Self-improvement, Business, Health & Fitness, Mental Health, Education

4.2 • 648 Ratings

🗓️ 26 February 2026

⏱️ 32 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In this episode, Shari sits down with Holly O’Neill, who has a front-row view of the financial behavior of 69 million clients, to unpack what Gen Z is really doing with their money and why it matters for every generation. From the rising cost of living and the true price of “adulting” to real-time balance checking, early saving habits, and the viral trend of loud budgeting, this conversation breaks down how 18- to 28-year-olds are navigating financial stress in a high-cost, digital-first world. You’ll hear what the data actually says about Gen Z and budgeting, saving, investing, dating, financial independence, and family support — and why this generation may be more proactive and financially aware than they get credit for. Holly also shares practical strategies that work at any age, including how to use the 50/30/20 budget, build an emergency fund, automate your savings, and control impulse spending without feeling deprived. If you’ve ever wondered whether Gen Z is behind or ahead financially, how their money mindset is reshaping relationships and long-term goals, and what their habits can teach you about reducing financial stress and building a life you can actually afford, this episode is your roadmap. If you’re ready for personalized, judgment-free financial guidance, learn more about working with Shari. Shari Rash is the founder of GWA Wealth, a virtual advisory firm helping women make confident, values-aligned decisions with their money. Visit GWA Wealth to explore your next step. Talkin’ Points → where your money gets smarter. Real talk, practical tips, zero guilt straight to your inbox. Sign up here. Be sure to like and follow the show on your favorite podcast app!Keep the conversation going on Instagram @everyonestalkinmoney Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	The world moves fast. Your workday? Even faster. Pitching products, drafting reports,
0:07.3	analyzing data. Microsoft 365 copilot is your AI assistant for work, built into Word, Excel,
0:14.5	PowerPoint, and other Microsoft 365 apps you use, helping you quickly write, analyze, create, and summarize.
0:22.2	So you can cut through clutter and clear a path to your best work.
0:26.1	Learn more at Microsoft.com slash M365 copilot.
0:30.0	Gen Z is getting a lot of headlines right now.
0:32.4	They're broke.
0:33.2	They're living at home.
0:34.3	They're buying $7 lottes and they're never going to retire.
0:37.4	What if I told you they're buying $7 lottes, and they're never going to retire. But what if I told
0:38.6	you they're also budgeting more than we did, saving earlier than we did, and saying, I can't afford that
0:45.8	without shame? I'm Shari Rash. I've spent nearly two decades helping women make confident decisions with their money.
0:59.5	And today, we are looking at what the next generation is doing differently and what we can learn from it.
1:05.1	Gen Z is the 18 to 28 generation navigating adulthood for the first time in a fully digital high-cost world.
1:14.8	And you should listen because the way they talk budget, the way they talk about money openly,
1:20.7	and adjust in real time is a masterclass in financial awareness that most of us were never taught. Whether you're Gen Z or you
1:30.1	know someone who is, take a listen because I can guarantee we are going to learn something from
1:35.3	this generation. Holly O'Neill is the president of retail consumer and preferred at Bank of America.
1:41.9	Holly has a front row seat to the money habits of 69 million people.
1:46.9	And what she's seeing from Gen Z completely challenges the narrative. We're talking about the real
1:52.0	cost of adulting, why financial stress is showing up earlier, how loud budgeting is changing
1:58.6	relationships, and the practical habits that actually work at any age.
	...

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