Latest news with #vibebasedbudgeting
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
'Vibe-Based Budgeting' And 'Revenge Saving': How Emotion-Based Habits Could Actually Boost Your Net Worth
For years, financial experts have warned against letting emotions dictate our financial habits. Decisions about spending, saving, and investing should all come from a logical, fact-based place, they say. It's solid advice, but the type of guidance that is increasingly being ignored as economic uncertainty lingers. And experts say that may be okay, too. A new survey from Intuit Credit Karma found that 44% of Americans are now engaging in "vibe-based budgeting." This means that they're choosing to adjust their financial habits based on how the economy feels, even if their money situation hasn't changed. Don't Miss:$100k+ in investable assets? – no cost, no obligation. According to the survey, 61% of people feel more anxious about the economy than they did a year ago. This is often not driven by their own financial situations— 72% of respondents told Intuit Credit Karma that their cash flow had either improved or stayed the same over the past year— but by outside factors like the economic news they consume or rising prices. Intuit Credit Karma's findings mirror those from a recent Vanguard survey. That report found that 71% of Americans plan to shift their savings approach over the summer to prioritize emergency funds and flexibility. This belt-tightening is what experts are calling revenge saving, the antithesis to the revenge spending that followed the pandemic, according to CNBC. "If you're concerned about the future, if you have some uncertainty, consumers may be looking to create that emergency fund or create that savings, because uncertainty means you want to be able to put your hands on cash if you need it quickly." TransUnion Senior Vice President of Global Research and Consulting Charlie Wise told CNBC. Trending: Named a TIME Best Invention and Backed by 5,000+ Users, Kara's Air-to-Water Pod Cuts Plastic and Costs — Saving money is always a good move, regardless of whether that decision is made logically or emotionally. So while experts aren't shooting down "vibe-based budgeting" or "revenge saving," they're still urging consumers to be intentional with their habits. Strategies like reverse budgeting, creating separate accounts for different financial goals, and periodically increasing your savings rates are still the preferred ways to stack your money. For those who find that anxieties around money are driving a lot of their financial habits, experts suggest taking a "money temperature." A fairly simple concept, this involves looking closely at what you're spending and saving, and ensuring that you're comfortable with that balance. "There are people that are way off track that are spending everything. And there are people that are the best savers in the world, and they're sometimes the most miserable," certified financial planner and Equilibrium Wealth Advisors founder Matthew Blocki told CNBC. "By taking "a 'money temperature' — if you utilize it correctly as a tool — you can reach the balance between living a good life today, securing the future and not having decision fatigue and not having regrets when you look back," he said. Read Next: This AI-Powered Trading Platform Has 5,000+ Users, 27 Pending Patents, and a $43.97M Valuation — Can you guess how many retire with a $5,000,000 nest egg? . Image: Shutterstock Up Next: Transform your trading with Benzinga Edge's one-of-a-kind market trade ideas and tools. Click now to access unique insights that can set you ahead in today's competitive market. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? APPLE (AAPL): Free Stock Analysis Report TESLA (TSLA): Free Stock Analysis Report This article 'Vibe-Based Budgeting' And 'Revenge Saving': How Emotion-Based Habits Could Actually Boost Your Net Worth originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Fast Company
08-07-2025
- Business
- Fast Company
What is vibe-based budgeting? Over half of Gen Z and millennials are doing it
To say Americans are grappling with economic uncertainty is an understatement. From boomerang tariff policies to the high cost of living, inflation, and mass layoffs, many people are increasingly worried about the economy and their ability to stay afloat. One way that's affecting Americans? Their budgeting habits—and many are now engaging in what's called 'vibe-based budgeting,' according to a report from Intuit Credit Karma. Here's what to know. What is vibe-based budgeting? New data from Intuit Credit Karma showed that 44% of Americans have engaged in 'vibe-based budgeting'—adjusting their spending and financial habits based on 'how the economy feels,' even if their personal financial situation hasn't actually changed. Over half of younger Americans admitted to budgeting this way (56% of Gen Z and 57% of millennials). That mindset is tied directly to recent news about the economy, both on and off social media, according to Intuit Credit Karma. The data showed many Americans believe that prices are climbing rapidly (44%), their finances are unstable (34%), and a recession is just around the corner (28%), with 61% reporting they are more anxious about the economy now than they were a year ago. A bleak picture but a better reality In contrast to that bleak economic picture, when asked to drill down on their own finances, half of those surveyed (51%) reported having a positive monthly cash flow, with nearly three-quarters (72%) saying it's actually improved or stayed the same over the past six months. However, 48% said that media coverage and changing economic conditions have made them second guess their financial standing. In short, the findings show a gap between how those surveyed feel about the state of the economy and the future, versus how they are actually doing financially. It also showed that their anxiety over the economy is making them more deliberate about how they manage their money, with 45% of those concerned about the economy reporting they have cut back on non-essential spending like eating out, and 38% avoiding new debt or loans. The good news is that those who have adjusted their budget have a more optimistic outlook; 38% said they expect their financial situation to improve in the coming year. The Intuit Credit Karma findings are based on data from a Qualtrics online survey that ran last month from June 13 to June 17, among 1,058 adults aged 18 and older.
