The Inflation Generation: How Gen Z Is Navigating Money, Politics, and Uncertainty
Our February Gen Z Tracker Looks Into Trump, Inflation, and the Gender Dynamics of Hustle Culture
The Backdrop
In the first few weeks of President Trump’s second term, young Americans are already reassessing their expectations. The latest SocialSphere Gen Z tracking survey, conducted February 14-16, 2025 (n=1,089, ±3.0%), reveals a generation grappling with unprecedented financial complexity—one that is deeply affected by the policies shaping their economic future.
Trump entered office with a 53% favorability rating among young Americans (18-29), but that number has since dropped to 39% as economic concerns mount. Approval of his handling of the economy sits at 39%, while disapproval has climbed to 44%. On inflation, the numbers are even worse: 50% disapprove, only 32% approve. The direct impact of his presidency is also shifting—40% say Trump’s leadership is making their lives worse, compared to 33% who see a positive difference.
This shifting political mood is shaped by the broader financial realities young Americans face. Their world looks markedly different from their parents:
42% get their news primarily from social media and podcasts.
50% maintain side hustles to supplement their income.
Nearly a third (29%) invest in cryptocurrency, embracing new financial frontiers.
Yet beneath these headline statistics lies a more nuanced picture. While 66% have health insurance and 61% own or lease a car—traditional markers of financial stability—only 34% have three months of emergency savings. Gen Z straddles old and new financial paradigms: 52% regularly use credit cards, but 29% rely on buy-now-pay-later services.
Perhaps most tellingly, 43% rent their homes while 24% live with family, reflecting both the housing affordability crisis and evolving social norms around independence. Their mental health tells an equally complex story: while 46% report minimal mental health symptoms, over a quarter experience moderate to severe challenges.
These financial and psychological stressors shape how young Americans navigate a volatile economy—one where inflation, rising costs, and economic policy decisions feel deeply personal.
"It's a stark choice: either you embrace the system and try to leverage it for wealth, like the kids making millions off meme coins in their basements, or you're stuck coasting by at a 9-to-5 job, watching your purchasing power erode over time through inflation. There's no middle ground anymore."
From this complex landscape emerge four distinct tribes, each charting their own course through America's financial waters—some embracing risk, others seeking stability, and many caught in the middle.
My Takeaways ✨✨✨
#1: The High-Risk Hustlers: A New Financial Masculinity
Meet the most financially aggressive segment of Gen Z, representing 15% of their generation. Predominantly male (67%) and urban (42%), these young adults aren’t just dipping their toes in the investment waters—they're diving in headfirst. A stunning 84% invest in stocks and 80% in crypto.
Their appetite for risk extends beyond traditional investments—66% bet on sports, more than triple the Gen Z average (27%).
This group is also highly attuned to economic realities. They know that standing still financially is the same as falling behind. One High-Risk Hustler summed it up bluntly:
"Unless you're actively trying to find ways to either job hop or get a raise at your company that's significant enough to keep up with the rate of inflation...you're gonna fall behind."
For this group, the hustle isn't just about ambition—it's a survival strategy. Their financial mindset is shaped by the belief that playing it safe leads to economic stagnation.
And their approach isn't without results: they report the highest financial security of any Gen Z segment (2.99/5). But their success comes at a cost—this group also has the lowest mental health scores, with only 38% reporting minimal symptoms. The pressure to outpace inflation, competition, and market volatility takes its toll.
Their politics reflect this high-stakes worldview. They are the most pro-Trump segment (61% favorable) and the strongest supporters of Elon Musk (57% favorable). Their preference for bold, disruptive leaders mirrors their financial ethos—bet big, move fast, and never settle.
🚀 High-Risk Hustlers (15% of Gen Z)
Who They Are: 67% Male | 45% White | 25% Black | 33% College Grads
Financial Profile: Best financial security (2.99/5)
Key Behaviors: 84% Stocks | 80% Crypto | 66% Sports Betting
Notable: Highest Trump support (61%) but lowest mental health scores
#2: The Stability Seekers: Digital Natives with Old-School Values
Our second tribe (20%) presents a fascinating contradiction: they're digital-first (80% use investment apps) but old-school in their approach to risk. These suburban dwellers (51%) show balanced political views (37% Democrat, 33% Republican) and maintain steady employment (62% full-time).
While 78% have credit cards, 63% pay them off monthly—a sign of financial discipline. They maintain emergency funds (51%), but avoid the more speculative investments favored by our first group. Their moderate risk appetite extends to sports betting (57%), but they do so within a more controlled financial strategy.
Yet, despite their relative financial stability, many still feel one unexpected expense away from disaster. As one respondent put it:
"Just money knowing if something happened to me—if I had a medical emergency or my car broke down or something like that—I'm just done for. Because it's really hard to make savings and to kind of keep a rainy day fund or whatever that might be."
This anxiety speaks to a core tension in Gen Z’s financial worldview: even those who play by the traditional rules—budgeting, saving, avoiding excessive risk—aren't confident they can withstand an emergency. Their financial caution reflects both pragmatism and pessimism—a recognition that stability feels fragile in a rapidly shifting economic landscape.
🎯 The Stability Seekers (20% of Gen Z)
Who They Are: 75% Male | 46% White | 20% College Grads
Financial Profile: Moderate security (2.39/5)
Key Behaviors: 80% Use Investment Apps | 57% Sports Betting | 63% Pay Cards in Full
Notable: Balanced political views (37% Dem, 33% Rep)
#3: The Struggling Strivers: Finding Community Amid Hardship
The largest (41%) and most economically challenged segment of Gen Z tells a story of resilience through community. This diverse group (14% Black, 27% Hispanic) is predominantly female (55%) and the most likely to live with family (39%).
Financial insecurity is a defining challenge for this group. Only 21% work full-time, and 26% are struggling to make ends meet. A staggering 80% have no college degree, though 13% are currently students. Yet, despite these obstacles, they are finding ways to adapt: 39% maintain side hustles, and they are the most politically independent (47% unaffiliated).
For many, survival means constantly juggling multiple income streams just to stay afloat:
“It's very hard to survive here. You have to have a side hustle and a side business and another job and work overtime. And it takes a toll on us. It's a lot.”
This financial reality is reflected in their spending habits—only 12% participate in sports betting, a rate far lower than other Gen Z segments. Their reluctance to engage in risky financial behavior is not just a preference; it’s a necessity dictated by limited disposable income and an urgent need for stability.
Their living arrangements highlight the struggle to gain independence: 44% rent, while 39% live with family, underscoring the impact of housing affordability challenges and shifting norms around financial independence.
Yet, despite these challenges, their mental health metrics mirror the general population, with 46% reporting minimal symptoms—a sign that strong social support networks play a critical role in their well-being.
💪 Struggling Strivers (41% of Gen Z)
Who They Are: 55% Female | 54% White | 27% Hispanic | 13% Students
Financial Profile: Lowest financial security (2.03/5)
Key Behaviors: 39% Side Hustle | 39% Live with Family | 12% Sports Betting
Notable: Most politically independent (47%)
#4: The Balanced Builders: The New Suburban Dream
Our final tribe might be writing the playbook for sustainable financial success. About a quarter (24%) of 18-29 year-olds, predominantly female (69%), suburban (53%), and education-focused (22% graduates, 27% students), these young adults are charting a middle path—one that prioritizes stability over speculation.
They avoid high-risk investments (only 5% in crypto) and show limited interest in sports betting (16%), but they maintain strong financial foundations: 86% use credit cards responsibly, with 75% paying in full monthly. They are also the most politically progressive (64% Harris favorable) and report the strongest mental health metrics (45% minimal symptoms) of any group.
They are also the most successful at achieving traditional financial milestones: 40% own homes and 87% own cars, suggesting that they are building stability without the extreme financial risks embraced by their high-rolling peers.
For many in this group, the ultimate goal is financial independence and control over their lives—not just through stable careers but through ownership and entrepreneurship.
“[My best life is] having the financial freedom. I feel like having your own business…you kinda get more of that freedom to be able to go do whatever you wanna do when you wanna do it. And hopefully, at that time, I am married, settled, and have my own house where we don’t have to worry about bills or anything like that.”
This measured approach to wealth-building contrasts sharply with the High-Risk Hustlers' aggressive investing and the Struggling Strivers' economic precarity. Instead, Balanced Builders are focused on slow, steady financial growth and achieving a life that blends security with freedom.
⭐ Balanced Builders (24% of Gen Z)
Who They Are: 69% Female | 51% White | 28% Hispanic | 27% Students
Financial Profile: Good financial security (2.65/5)
Key Behaviors: 86% Use Credit Cards | 75% Pay in Full | 16% Sports Betting
Notable: Best mental health scores and highest home ownership (40%)
The Bottom Line
These four tribes aren't just financial segments—they're competing visions of how to build a life in modern America. What's striking is how these financial paths reflect deeper social divides: gender (male-dominated high-risk investing vs. female-led balanced building), politics (from 61% Trump support among risk-takers to 64% Harris backing among balanced builders), and fundamentally different approaches to success.
The largest group—the Struggling Strivers (41%)—tells us something crucial about Gen Z's economic reality. Despite facing the greatest financial challenges, they maintain comparable mental health to their more secure peers, suggesting that traditional metrics of success may need rethinking. Their high rate of living with family (39%) isn't just about economics—it's about redefining independence and community support.
Meanwhile, the contrast between High-Risk Hustlers (15%) and Balanced Builders (24%) presents two competing models of capitalism itself.
The Hustlers' approach—heavily male, cryptocurrency-focused, sports-betting engaged—delivers superior financial metrics but the poorest mental health outcomes.
The Balanced Builders, while showing lower financial returns, report the best mental health and highest homeownership rates. This tension between financial success and well-being may be the defining challenge for this generation's approach to wealth-building.
For institutions hoping to engage with Gen Z, several imperatives emerge:
Gender Dynamics Matter: The stark gender divide in financial strategies suggests systemic issues in how we educate and empower young adults about money.
Mental Health Must Be Central: Any financial product or policy that ignores psychological well-being misses a core Gen Z concern.
Community vs. Independence: Traditional American narratives about financial independence are being rewritten, with family support and community resilience playing larger roles.
Digital ≠ Risky: While all segments use digital tools, they do so with vastly different risk appetites. Technology itself isn't driving behavior—worldview is.
One thing is clear: Gen Z isn't following any single financial script. They're writing their own. The results will reshape American finance for decades to come. Whether through high-risk digital investments, measured community-oriented building, or resilient adaptation to challenges, this generation is crafting new definitions of financial success—ones that go far beyond the bottom line.
"You're so focused on just trying to survive that there's no time for anything else."
"Everyone's just, like, exhausted. And we need that collective, like, we are all in this together. We, like, can't survive separately.”
For political leaders, financial institutions, and employers, the message is clear: Understanding these four tribes and the values they represent isn't just about marketing. It's about grasping how a generation is fundamentally reimagining the relationship between money, community, and personal fulfillment.
This is fascinating and will be a valuable resource for many of the authors I work with.
What's also interesting is one thing that's left out entirely: marriage.
Another interesting part of this analysis would be to discern the influence, if any, by parents, and/or by the political leanings of parents or grandparents?