WORK & LIFE

Navigating the world of personal finance is daunting for anyone, but it’s a particularly pressing concern for members of Generation Z as they begin their careers and become financially independent. Adult Gen Zers, aged between 18 and 27, are grappling with new financial challenges at a time of expensive college costs, a competitive job market and sticky inflation , which reached a 40-year-high in 2022 and remains elevated on items such as food and shelter. The effects of the

September 02, 2025 Doom spending, quiet quitting, soft saving – these trendy terms attempt to describe how Generation Z approaches work and money. But how accurate are they? Zosia Cooper, a Sociology doctoral student in UC San Diego’s School of Social Sciences, is cutting through the noise to find out what really shapes Gen Z’s financial habits. Cooper, who has interviewed more than 60 recent college graduates about their financial wellbeing, is especially curious about inves