There was a time when talking about finances with friends was taboo.
But that’s changing with the advent of “loud budgeting” - a Gen Z movement that normalizes saying out loud, "I can't afford that," or, "There's no money left in my budget for that." Some 42 percent of Gen Z practice it, according to an May survey from Bank of America.
It’s all about dropping the shame around saving money, April Lewis-Parks, director of financial education and communications at credit counseling firm Consolidated Credit, told The Independent in an email.
“Breaking the stigma of not having enough money to spend frivolously is the backbone of loud budgeting,” she said.
“On TikTok and Instagram, I see people sharing their income goals, money strategies, and spending boundaries, and loudly saying NO to things that don't serve them. And as a financial counselor and advocate, I say bravo to these people.”
Behind loud budgeting seems to be a growing sense of frustration among young adults.
“I think that's because these days many young people feel as if their money just doesn't go as far as it used to, and it's a general frustration they can share with one another,” certified financial educator Tom Mathews told The Independent in an email.
There’s plenty of evidence for the financial hardships Gen Z faces. For every $100 in groceries that consumers buy today, they’re paying $22 more than five years ago, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The average mortgage rate is more than twice as high as 2021. Average home prices have shot up more than $80,000 since then too, federal data shows.
In 2026, consumers saw gas prices surge past $4 for the first time in four years. In May, inflation hit its highest point in three years before cooling in June and July.
Whereas other generations may have kept quiet about their financial struggles - and 40 percent of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck - Gen Z is taking a more transparent approach.
“Loud budgeting is completely different from what previous generations have done when it comes to their money,” Mathews said. “There was no talking about how much you made, spent, invested or if you were in debt.”
There’s two key parts of loud budgeting - making a budget and recognizing the benefits, experts say.
Even through economic ups and downs, the rules of budgeting remain relatively constant, Mathews said.
“The most important thing to remember about budgeting is that the rules of the game haven't changed; just the conversation is different for some people,” he said.
To build a budget, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau recommends the following steps:
- Identify where money is coming from, such as jobs, side gigs or child support
- Calculate how much money is spent each month and on what
- Find the due dates and amounts of all bills
- Build a budget based on how much money is earned and realistic spending limits.
“Creating a budget will help you figure out if you have enough money to cover your expenses, while also having enough to save or spend on something extra you may want for yourself or your family,” the bureau notes.
With the numbers finalized, consider the benefits of being outspoken about a budget.
A big one is how it shatters tight-lipped notions of personal finance leftover from previous generations, Lewis-Parks told The Independent in an email.
“It breaks the mold of feeling embarrassed or limited and frames money management as an intentional positive choice,” she said.
This transparency relieves the pressure of keeping up with idealized versions of life that flood Instagram, Facebook and TikTok, and keeps people out of debt.
Seeking the support of friends and family when choosing to budget loudly is also a great idea, Lewis-Parks said.
“On TikTok and Instagram, I see people sharing their income goals, money strategies, and spending boundaries, and loudly saying ‘NO’ to things that don't serve them,” she said. “And as a financial counselor and advocate, I say bravo to these people.”
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