MoneyLion Survey Finds Summer Financial Pressure Hits Gen Z The Hardest

More than half of Americans say they need more money this summer than last year, with Gen Z more than twice as likely as boomers to say the gap is significant

NEW YORK, June 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Financial stress is pervasive this summer, but it's not evenly distributed across age groups. According to a new survey from MoneyLion, 52% of Americans say they need more money this summer than last year, with 22% saying they need "significantly more." Gen Z reports the sharpest shortfall: 33% say the gap is significant, compared to 23% of millennials, 20% of Gen X, and 15% of boomers.

The results reflect conditions that are particularly difficult for younger adults to absorb. Housing costs, student debt, and wage stagnation in entry-level roles are compressing budgets in ways that older generations largely avoided at the same life stage. Among respondents ages 18 to 24, 23% say they are moving back in with family or taking on roommates this summer because of financial pressure.

"Americans, especially younger generations, are working hard to keep up with rising costs, often without the financial foundation earlier generations could rely on," said Sarah DiCara, Financial Wellness Advocate at MoneyLion. "Our mission is to give everyone the power to make their best financial decisions, and this summer we're focused on helping people get ahead by connecting them with the products, content, and guidance they need to turn that effort into lasting financial progress."

Key Findings

The survey also pushes back on assumptions about how Gen Z spends. Respondents in that age group spend less overall than older generations, and the cutbacks they are making mirror those reported across the full sample. The distinction is not behavior but starting conditions: a labor market that rewards experience, a housing market built on appreciation that predates this generation, and a debt load that many carry before earning their first full-time paycheck.

For Americans looking to strengthen their finances this season, MoneyLion shares a few practical tips to get started:

More resources are available at moneylion.com/learn.

Survey Methodology
MoneyLion surveyed 1,000 adults ages 18 and over in May 2026.

About MoneyLion
MoneyLion is a leading financial technology platform and part of Gen (NASDAQ: GEN), a global company dedicated to powering Digital Freedom with a family of trusted consumer brands. MoneyLion powers the next generation of personalized products, content, and marketplace technology through its top-rated consumer finance super app, premier embedded finance platform for enterprise businesses, and world-class media arm. Consumers gain control of their finances with an innovative suite of products to save, borrow, spend, and invest, seamlessly integrating the best offers and content from MoneyLion and its 1,300+ enterprise partners into one unified experience. Its mission is to give everyone the power to make their best financial decisions. Learn more at www.moneylion.com.

Media Contact:
Malea Lamb-Hall
Gen
press@gendigital.com

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SOURCE Gen Digital Inc.