Rising Costs Have Altered Life Plans for Gen Z

A new survey found that nearly 80 percent of Gen Z adults postponed major milestones due to increased living expenses.

Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Financial Planning

Bold vector editorial illustration of a stack of house-shaped blocks bound by a heavy chain, symbolizing financial constraints on life milestones. — Nearly 80 percent of Gen Z adults have delayed significant life milestones like home purchases and education due to rising living expenses, a new survey shows. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you feel like rising costs are making your major life plans harder to achieve?

Seventy-nine percent of Gen Z Americans have delayed significant life plans such as home purchases, education, and starting families due to rising costs. Meanwhile, 83 percent of all surveyed adults reported that managing household expenses has become more difficult over the previous two years.

Why it matters

Widespread financial stress is forcing individuals to prioritize immediate costs over long-term goals, fundamentally reshaping the trajectory of young adults. This economic pressure is also manifesting as a decline in accessible healthcare, as many people sacrifice medical needs to stay afloat.

A survey of 1,000 U.S. adults revealed that 44 percent of respondents identify housing costs as their primary financial stressor. Additionally, 57 percent of respondents took cost-driven healthcare actions in the past year, including delaying doctor visits or skipping prescriptions.

The players

Gen Z

This demographic group consists of individuals born between approximately 1997 and 2012 who are now navigating early adulthood and career formation.

The details

The survey results highlight a shift in priorities as younger generations postpone marriage, homeownership, and business ventures to manage mounting financial pressure. Beyond lifestyle adjustments, 28 percent of total respondents reported avoiding medical appointments, while 17 percent skipped filling necessary prescriptions due to cost constraints.

Over the previous two years, respondents reported increased difficulty managing household costs.
During the previous year, 57 percent of consumers took cost-driven healthcare actions.

Market Dynamics

This data mirrors the historical trend of U.S. consumer sentiment regarding the cost of living by highlighting an increasing struggle to balance essential expenses with long-term financial stability. It signals a departure from past cycles where younger generations were able to meet major milestones at earlier stages of their lives.

These findings suggest that many households may need to reassess their debt management and savings strategies to maintain solvency during periods of high inflation. Retail investors should consider how these pervasive cost-cutting behaviors may dampen long-term consumer spending power.

The takeaway

Financial stress is causing a structural shift in how people approach both life planning and basic health maintenance. Readers are encouraged to prioritize emergency fund contributions to avoid the necessity of skipping essential medical care during times of economic volatility.