- 44% of Americans surveyed say they’ve engaged in “vibe-based budgeting,” or adjusting their spending and financial habits based on how the economy feels, even if their financial situation hasn’t changed, climbing to 56% of Gen Z and 57% of millennials.
- More than half (56%) say that even when their financial situation hasn’t changed, they sometimes feel anxious about money because of the news they consume.
- 61% of people feel more anxious about the economy than they did a year ago.
As a cloud of economic anxiety hangs overhead, Americans are increasingly caught between trusting their own financial reality and reacting to the noise surrounding the economy.
According to new data from Intuit Credit Karma, roughly half (51%) of Americans report having a positive monthly cash flow, and 72% say their cash flow has either improved or stayed the same over the past six months. Despite 41% of people claiming they currently feel financially stable, pessimism about the broader economy still outweighs optimism, 42% to 36%.
In some cases, the disconnect may stem from external factors that drive people’s perception of the economy, whether it’s the news or social media content they consume. In fact, 56% of Americans say that even when their financial situation hasn’t changed, they sometimes feel anxious about money because of the news that they consume. And, 48% say that media coverage and changing economic conditions have made them second guess their financial standing.
‘Vibe-Based Budgeting’ takes hold
In many cases (54%), people say that the economic news they consume influences the financial decisions that they make. And, more than 4 in 10 Americans (44%) say they’ve engaged in “vibe-based budgeting,” or adjusting their spending and financial habits based on how the economy feels, even if their financial situation hasn’t changed. This response, shaped by headlines, market swings, and social media chatter, is especially common among Gen Z (56%) and millennials (57%).
While about a quarter (26%) of people say that their individual financial situation has the greatest influence on how they perceive the state of the economy, others cite news outlets (16%) or social media (15%), with the latter jumping to 29% of Gen Z.
Contributing to the practice of vibe-based budgeting are beliefs Americans have come to hold as a result of consuming news and social media content these past six months, including that prices are rising rapidly (44%), their financial situation is uncertain (34%) and a recession is imminent (28%).
Economic anxieties drive healthy financial habits
There is no denying the unease people feel about the economy, which is reflected in the words that come to mind when they’re asked to give their honest take on the US economy’s current state, including “concerning” (37%), “unstable” (35%) and “chaotic” (29%). This has 61% of people feeling more anxious about the economy now than they did a year ago.
While people are feeling financial pressure, it’s motivating them to be more intentional with their money. Among those who have been influenced by recent economic concerns, as a result, 45% have reduced their non-essential spending (i.e. dining out), 42% are budgeting and tracking their expenses more closely and 38% are avoiding taking on new debt or loans. Perhaps these good habits are even driving Americans to feel more hopeful about their financial future – 38% say they expect their financial situation to improve over the next year.
“External factors often influence how we spend money, sometimes for better and sometimes for worse, but it’s important to ground your financial decisions in your personal financial reality,” said Courtney Alev, consumer financial advocate at Intuit Credit Karma. “Use the broader economic context as a guide, not a rule, and stay focused on what you can confidently afford according to your financial situation. One helpful habit is to regularly audit your finances and budget, not just when things feel uncertain, but on an ongoing basis to accurately assess when you might need to make adjustments and when you’re right on track with your goals.”
Methodology
This survey was conducted online within the United States by Qualtrics on behalf of Intuit Credit Karma on June 13, 2025, to June 17, 2025, among 1,058 adults ages 18 and older.