The Peorian

Thu03282024

Last updateMon, 15 Jun 2020 10pm

Back You are here: Home News News Money Millennials are good savers

Millennials are good savers

millennials2
Log in to save this page.

Saving money may be challenging for most Americans, but a new survey fromTD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank®, reveals that nearly half of Americans are feeling confident about their ability to save for the future.

TheTD Bank Saving and Spending Surveyquestioned more than 1,600 U.S. consumers about their saving and spending habits. Given the current economy, the survey surprisingly found that nearly half of consumers (49 percent) described themselves as "good savers."

Millennials are leading the charge with 56 percent reporting that they are "good savers," compared with 43 percent of gen Xers and 48 percent of baby boomers.

Among those who wished they were saving more, 42 percent reported that unavoidable expenses and financial commitments impaired their ability to save.

"Conventional wisdom assumes Americans are spenders, rather than savers," saidNandita Bakhshi, head of Consumer Bank, TD Bank. "So it's encouraging to see such a strong commitment to saving across the board, particularly among millennials. Only four percent of respondents stated that saving isn't a priority, regardless of their financial situations." 

Retirement represents another key focus for most Americans, with 57 percent reporting that they are currently saving or investing money for retirement. Still, a majority of consumers are not confident that they will have the funds to retire comfortably.

Indeed, only 29 percent of respondents are very or extremely confident that they will save enough to retire comfortably, while 36 percent of Americans list saving for retirement as one of their main financial fears. Millennials, once again, break away from the pack, feeling twice as confident as gen Xers in their ability to save for a comfortable retirement (42 percent versus 20 percent, respectively).

While saving is a top priority, a majority of Americans still report that they are overspending in some areas. Frequently, restaurants were cited as the top culprit in overspending (40 percent), followed by coffee/lunches (23 percent) and clothing/shoes (15 percent).

When it comes to retail spending, one-half of all respondents and 69 percent of millennials surveyed admitted to indulging on impulse purchases. Among the generations, boomers were the least prone to binge-buying, with 49 percent noting that they "try not to spend outside their budget."

Millennials are not only the best savers; they're also the most diligent about their budgets. According to the TD Bank Saving and Spending Survey, 44 percent of Americans check their budget once a week or more. This figure climbs to 53 percent for millennials, compared with 43 percent for gen Xers and 37 percent for baby boomers.

New technology is also changing the way Americans manage their finances. Today's American consumers are relying more heavily on banking/financial apps (40 percent), with conventional spreadsheets taking a secondary position (29 percent). Reliance on banking/financial apps is particularly prominent among millennials, at 59 percent versus 38 percent for gen Xers and 24 percent for baby boomers.

"Given the wealth of budgeting resources and technology available today, there's something for everyone for tracking financial habits," said Bakhshi. "Even if you don't actively budget today, the ease of these new financial apps can provide a great point of entry for controlling spending and managing savings."

The study was conducted among a nationally representative group of consumers fromMarch 26 through March 31, 2015. The total sample size was 1,607 respondents (ages 18-55+) with a margin of error of +/- 2.4 percent. The survey was conducted by Vision Critical, an independent global research company.

About the Author