20 Things Millennials Are Apparently Spending Money On Instead of Buying Homes and Cars

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And is anyone really surprised? For one thing, we’re not in the best economy for young people buying houses.

But also, a common millennial trait is moving around, having a little freedom—and a home with a 30-year mortgage can’t give us that.

It’s all about choosing what kind of lifestyle we’re looking to have, and can reasonably afford.

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Yeah, millennials like avocado a little too much. Some things are just worth it.

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This is one of the things millennials could do without (unless it’s free, duh).

We live in a world full of instant gratification, but waiting 3 to 5 days for delivery isn’t that hard.

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It’s been estimated that nearly 40% of millennials have a tattoo.

Tattoos, piercings, hair dye, and other body modifications are a popular form of self-expression for this generation.

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Millennials get coffee roughly twice as often as other generations. Come on, people: stop drinking coffee, and maybe you could afford a house.

…Right?

Read on to see one big-spending item that many generations have in common, something we excel at, plus a couple of things we probably don’t need (too often).

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We are the generation more likely to invest in organic foods, which are generally more expensive.

On the other hand, we’re also eating the most healthily and ethically.

Which is kind of the point of buying organic produce, wouldn’t you say?

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Who can remember complete phone numbers anymore, anyway?

Smartphones are one of the few things that are becoming standard across generations.

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Buses and trains are more cost-effective, but sometimes you’ve just got to get somewhere fast.

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More of that “on the go” mentality comes in the form of fast-food and takeout.

While occasionally we all need a quick fix—and can’t stop and sit down at a restaurant—that speedy service is reflected in the bill you get.

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Everything in moderation, people. If you can buy a cute top or stay on-budget, staying on budget is best.

Next up: industries the millennials are really feeling nowadays, and one financial pitfall to look out for.

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Beauty products, especially makeup, are big sellers in the millennial demographic.

Money is made particularly with selling points of organic or all-natural products.

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Self-improvement is an important theme amongst many millennials, and fitness rightfully goes along with that!

Spending on fitness—gym memberships and similar things—is popular.

The only question to ask is, ‘do I need that fancy gym membership, or can I just go to my local YMCA?’

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Netflix, Hulu, Spotify, etc. You name it; we’re streaming it!

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Sadly, this one is a hard problem to get around for millennials on a budget.

If you’re clothes shopping while strapped for cash, well-made and durable clothes (read: expensive) aren’t an option.

Then you’re stuck with clothes that wear out faster and fall into a cycle of buying cheap clothes more often than you should need to.

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But, in our defense, every generation has its members who do that.

On the next page: we may spend our money on different things, but that’s not a bad thing.

Check out a few things millennials invest in that are actually pretty cool!

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Millennials spend almost double what Baby Boomers do on things they consider to be self-care essentials.

Plenty of millennials budget, or save money.

Sometimes, they’re saving for self-care and other enjoyable things, instead of property!

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And unfortunately, millennials are paying a lot of them.

Whether it’s repaying a hefty college loan or credit card debt, millennials are spending lots of money paying their dues.

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Where millennials are concerned, there’s a distinct shift towards valuing experiences over things.

And there’s nothing wrong with that!

As long as you’re spending in moderation, why not make your ‘indulgence’ expenses something fun that you’ll never forget?

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Traveling around the world is one of those highly values experiences we’re talking about.

We’d rather see the world, not buy diamonds or one of the other frivolous luxury items we’re supposedly ‘ruining’!

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In a similar vein to those loan payments, millennials have spent more on education than any previous generation.

Like this story? Compare this list to the things you value most, and share with other millennials!