Risk can come in many different ways, whether you’re at a casino, or at home. No matter where you are, people across the nation make risky decisions with their money every day. We recently surveyed more than 1,000 people across the U.S. about their financial habits and behaviors in 2023. Here’s what we found out.
Spending habits in 2023
More than half (65%) of Americans are changing their spending habits because of inflation. It’s harder for some to slow their spending, as 1 in 4 consider themselves impulse shoppers. On average, Americans spend $220 a month on impulse buys!
Sometimes those impulsive purchases can lead to regret, as 69% have had buyer’s remorse. The top five purchase regrets: dining out, clothing, former hobbies, shoes, and jewelry and or accessories. The average person spends $160 per month eating out or ordering in, while spending $77 a month on clothing or shoes. One of the worst instances of buyer’s remorse can happen after you’ve had a drink or two. The median amount Americans admit to having spent while drunk shopping in one night is $150!
When Americans celebrate a big win, many may want to treat themselves to something they’ve had their eye on for quite some time. The study found more than half of people celebrate or reward themselves by buying something new. Additionally, 81% get excited when they see a package has arrived, even if they were already expecting it to come.
The top five things Americans spend the most money on are housing, food, car/transportation, health and wellness, and investments.
It can be embarrassing to talk about your money troubles to your friends and family. In fact, nearly 1 in 3 (30%) have tried to hide their financial concerns from their loved ones.
Financial habits in 2023
Nearly 3 in 4 (71%) Americans are rethinking their spending habits this year. Additionally, 78% are worried about the impact of inflation on their finances and 69% have financial anxiety.
The top three resources people trust when it comes to financial advice are their families, news articles, and financial advisors. Nearly 1 in 5 (17%) trust financial advice they see on social media. As for the financial future, Americans are relatively optimistic, as nearly half (49%) believe their financial situation will get better in 2023. On the other hand, 40% think it will stay the same and 11% think it will get worse.
For those trying to pay off their credit card debt, 2023 could be a challenging year. The average person has $2,893 in credit card debt and nearly 2 in 5 (37%) aren’t able to pay their credit card balance every month.
Americans’ risky financial bevariors
A quarter of Americans admit to rolling the dice on risky financial decisions. But which generation does it the most often? Gen Z ranks first with 30% saying they’ve made a high-risk choice with their money. Millennials are not far behind at 27%. Gen X came in third with 22% and Baby Boomers were fourth with only 14% saying they’ve made a gamble on a high-stakes financial decision. When it comes to actual gambling, nearly 1 in 4 (24%) Americans gamble and the average person spends $1,376 per year placing bets.
Sometimes high-risk purchases come with regret: 32% of Americans made a risky investment in the past year and more than 1 in 3 regret that choice. The top three riskiest purchases planned for this year are vacations, cars, and homes.
It can also be tricky trading in the stock market, however, 3 in 5 Americans invest their money in stocks. While nearly half (47%) are investing in cryptocurrency, 29% admitted they don’t understand how crypto works. Meanwhile, 12% have put some of their money into NFTs, but 42% don’t know how NFTs make money.
How are Americans budgeting in 2023?
Nearly 2 in 5 (39%) are having difficulty covering expenses and paying bills. The top five things Americans budget for are groceries, rent and/or mortgage, utilities, car and/or transportation, and dining out or ordering in. However, almost 1 in 4 (24%) don’t budget at all.
It can be tough staying on top of your budget. When it comes to groceries, 1 in 4 Americans feel they spent too much at the supermarket last year. As for restaurants, 17% went over their budget for eating out.
The majority of Americans are looking to deepen their pockets this year. In fact, 84% plan to save more money in 2023 with the average person hoping to save $11,793.
Overall, many Americans are adapting their spending habits in 2023. Some are holding themselves to strict budgeting plans to save this year, while others are making riskier investments. Whatever you decide to do with your money, we hope it leads to a prosperous 2023!
Methodology
In January 2023, we surveyed 1,003 people from across the U.S. Respondents ranged in age from 18 to 93 with the average age of 40. 49% identified as male, 48% identified as female, and 3% identified as non-binary or transgender.
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