I’m tired of hustling for extra cash and going nowhere in this economy.

Why is it so expensive to be alive nowadays?

From paying the bills to trying to have any fun, I feel like I’m trying to keep my head above water. Inflation keeps prices high, and my income can’t keep up.

I’m a Zillennial, a generation that puts itself on the cusp between Gen Z and millennials. We’re too old not to have our shit together, but we’re still looking for adults to guide us. We’re in the unique and uncomfortable position where we are nowhere near where our parents were financially at our age.

The Role Money Plays in Our Relationships

An easy way that we judge who our true friends are? We look at how they talk to us about money.

Trying to plan a hangout with my friends is a tightrope walk. We’re in our twenties, and some of us are in grad school while others work full-time or are unemployed and looking for our next gig. It’s a hodgepodge of financial situations that are carefully considered in the balance of our outing. It should be fun, but not too expensive. Participation in any events that require money are strictly optional.

Unfortunately, besides the weird financial tiptoeing, we’re also going through life milestones. Can we afford to go to a destination wedding? Is home ownership still attainable, or must we settle for renting? What about going on trips? Who pays on a first date? Who gets to be in a wedding party, and what are they obligated to pay for?

With every social interaction, green pieces of paper insert themselves into the narrative, forcing their way into the forefront of our minds. Especially as we enter a new year, there is a strengthened resolve to stick to a budget and not spend any more than what is necessary.

“De-influencing” is a Part of Our Vocabulary

Only in 2024 would you hear words like “de-influencing” — where people on the Internet create content to convince you not to buy something. But in this economy, it’s necessary.