Gen Z is often described as a generation that would rather travel, attend concerts, explore food and enjoy flexibility than save for a home. I think that description captures only half the story.
Experiences have genuine value. Travel can broaden judgment, education can improve earning ability, and time with family and friends cannot always be postponed. A life built only around accumulating possessions may be financially impressive but personally empty.
But the opposite extreme is also risky.
Enjoyment and security must grow together
An experience gives a memory; an asset can provide future stability. The two are not enemies. The challenge is to enjoy today without sending the entire bill to tomorrow.
This is not easy for young people. Deloitte’s 2026 global survey found that 55% of Gen Z respondents were delaying major life decisions because of financial pressure. Housing availability or affordability also influenced where many respondents could work. These pressures make flexibility understandable, not irresponsible.
However, waiting to buy property should not mean waiting to build financial discipline.
An asset is more than a house
For a young person, the first asset may be emergency savings, a sensible long-term investment, professional skills or a small business. Property may come later, when income, location and personal plans become clearer.
I recently wrote about how Gen Z may approach real-estate investment. My view remains that younger buyers will be selective. They will question price, utility, maintenance, debt and future flexibility before committing.
My personal view
I do not believe Gen Z will choose only experiences. I believe it will demand both: a meaningful present and a secure future.
The healthiest approach is not to copy the lifestyle of social media or the financial habits of an earlier generation. It is to decide consciously what portion of income supports life today and what portion quietly builds tomorrow.
No asset offers guaranteed returns, and every investment requires independent financial and legal evaluation. But one principle is timeless: experiences enrich life, while disciplined asset creation protects choice.
Gen Z can have both—if balance begins early.
—Tushar Kumar
Source and context
The generational findings cited above are from Deloitte’s 2026 Global Gen Z and Millennial Survey, published on 13 May 2026. The remaining observations are my personal perspective.