See How Gen Z 'Loud Budgeters' Are Saving $629 Per Month

It started as a joke on TikTok, but "loud budgeting" has become one of the hottest Gen Z personal finance trends. A February 2024 study from Clarify Capital found that: 

• Search interest in loud budgeting is up 765% in the U.S. within the past month.
• 20% of Gen Zers are aware of the term loud budgeting, but only 6% are actively using loud budgeting in their financial lives.
• Among Gen Zers who are not familiar with the concept of loud budgeting, 53% are actually using loud budgeting habits. 

The Clarify Capital survey found that loud budgeters are saving an average of $629 per month by being more intentional, setting boundaries, and being loud about their personal values and financial goals. 

Let's look at a few of the most popular loud budgeting habits from the Gen Z survey, and how they can help you improve your personal finances. 

1. Regularly reviewing and adjusting finances (51% of Gen Z) 

A whopping 51% of the Gen Z respondents in the Clarify Capital survey said they believe in the importance of reviewing and adjusting their finances regularly. Digital banking apps make it easy to check in on your bank account balance 24/7. But beyond just checking your balance, there are also a few more sophisticated options to stay on top of your personal finances.

Budgeting spreadsheets 

This is a high-touch way to handle your budgeting, but sometimes it helps to put all the numbers in one place. Log in to your bank account online, get your latest bank statement, and make a spreadsheet with all the transactions from the previous month. Ask yourself: 

• Where is your money going? 
• Where could you happily spend less? 
• Are you spending too much on subscriptions you don't use, or dining out too often? 

You don't know until you crunch the numbers. Seeing all of your monthly spending, in one spreadsheet, can help you feel more in control of your personal finances.   

Budgeting apps 

Sometimes it can be worth paying a small monthly fee to get an easy-to-use budgeting app. The best budgeting apps connect to your bank and credit card accounts (with your permission), access your transactions, and show you a clear picture of where your money goes. 

Banks with built-in budgeting tools 

Some of the best banks offer built-in budgeting and savings tools so you can see your biggest spending categories and trends: 

• Bank of America, Chase, and Wells Fargo are major national banks that offer easy-to-use budgeting tools within the mobile banking app or online banking experience. 
• Ally offers "spending buckets" within your Spending Account (checking account), so you can plan for how you want to spend your money each month -- or save for a big purchase.  

2. Making intentional choices for financial well-being and goal prioritization (47%) 

Loud budgeting isn't just about numbers on a screen, it's about how you feel about money. In fact, 47% of Gen Zers surveyed by Clarify Capital said that they identify with this sense of being intentional about their personal finances. 

Instead of doom-spending or unconsciously buying stuff online, loud budgeters try to be more focused, calm, and deliberate about how they manage their money -- and when to say no to an invitation to spend. There's an old saying that "time is money," and how you spend your time is often a reflection of your personal finances. Loud budgeters might ask themselves: 

• Am I going out for expensive drinks too often with friends I don't enjoy all that much? 
• Instead of an expensive gym membership, can I go for a bike ride every day? 
• Instead of playing video games and buying an expensive gaming console, could I get a side hustle? 
• Am I really spending money and time in a way that aligns with my most important goals in life? 

3. Holding oneself accountable for spending decisions (37%) 

Loud budgeting is not just about what you say -- it's what you do. Thirty-seven percent of Gen Zers said that they believe in holding themselves accountable for how they manage money. Personal accountability is a healthy attitude toward your personal finances. Instead of doom-spending and falling into a spirit of fatalism, loud budgeters are taking control of their financial lives -- they're saying "no" to what they don't want to spend on, and saying "yes" to what they love. 

And accountability doesn't have to be strict or harsh. Another aspect of loud budgeting identified by the Clarify Capital survey was "seeing financial mistakes as learning opportunities." This means that you don't have to manage your bank account like a stern, disapproving taskmaster. Accountability can also involve giving yourself some grace in case you fail to meet a financial goal, or giving yourself permission to splurge now and then. 

Bottom line 

The loud budgeting trend emerged from Gen Zers on TikTok who feel underpaid at work, overburdened by debt, and overcharged at the grocery store. This generation wants to save money, but they're tormented by FOMO (fear of missing out) due to social media posts that make it seem like everyone else their age is going on lavish vacations and partying in expensive nightclubs. 

Loud budgeting is the antidote to all this unhelpful noise. If you're a Gen Zer who's just starting your first "real job," take heart: you are in the early stages of your career. Throughout your life, you will have opportunities to earn pay raises and promotions, save more money, and invest for the future. Loud budgeting can be a good start to help you declare your intentions and manage your personal finances with a spirit of purpose for long-term success.