Re-opening has a cost. Americans are spending an average of $765 more per month compared to the summer of 2020. Millennials and Gen Z are splurging, even more, spending an average of $1,016 more per month compared to last summer, according to new research from MassMutual. Not surprisingly, dining out and travel/vacation were the two most popular money drains.
At the same time, 41% of office workers, including half of Millennials, are worried about the financial costs associated with return to the office when the time occurs.
FOMO vs. JOMO
As social gatherings become more frequent, more than half of Americans are feeling the effects of FOMO (fear of missing out).
However, emerging from the pandemic and routine time alone, MassMutual finds that JOMO (joy of missing out) is outpacing FOMO as the sentiment is even more likely to guide financial decisions.
In fact, two-thirds also admit they experience JOMO (eg: feeling content with their own pursuits and activities) significantly more than those who report feeling FOMO.
Additionally:
- Nearly all Gen Zers are influenced by social media to go out and spend more and 85% say they have experienced FOMO this summer.
- A sign that behaviors during the pandemic may be here to stay, 45% plan to cook at home more in their post-pandemic lives, and 40% plan to stay at home more.
Return to work and school
MassMutual also finds that as Americans start to think about the return to in-person work and school, many are preparing for more expenses. When given a list of stressors related to returning to the office, nearly a quarter of office workers cite an increase in expenses.
Other key findings:
- One-third of U.S. office workers and 43% of Millennial workers expect to spend more when they return to in-person or hybrid work settings compared to how much they spend today, and more than one-quarter anticipate spending more than before the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Commuting costs (62%) are the number-one expense office workers say will contribute to their increased spending, followed by expenses related to people’s presentation of themselves – personal appearance costs (39%) and professional work clothing (38%).
- Other top expenses include dining/drinks out (34%), living costs such as higher rent or moving (32%), and social gatherings with friends/colleagues (32%).
- 58% of office workers want a flexible schedule because it saves them time and money, and Millennials feel this way significantly more likely than all other generations (68%).
Emerging from the pandemic, a majority of office workers believe it is important that their employers support their financial wellness (58%) as well as their mental health and wellness needs (64%). Millennials are even more likely to value the importance of these needs (68% and 72%, respectively).
Nearly half of parents of children K-12 expect to spend more this back-to-school season compared to in 2020, and a similar percentage expect to spend more compared to back-to-school spending pre-pandemic. The top contributor to this increase is new clothing followed closely by school supplies.
With more than 20 years serving financial markets, John Sullivan is the former editor-in-chief of 401(k) Specialist and Investment Advisor magazine and retirement editor of ThinkAdvisor.com. Sullivan is also the former editor of Boomer Market Advisor and Bank Advisor magazines, and has a background in the insurance and investment industries in addition to his journalism roots. Experienced financial services content executive specializing in creative new media delivery. He joined the American Retirement Association in 2023 as Chief Content Officer, overseeing communications for the organization, as well as its sister organizations.
