Every generation handles money differently, and the habits you grew up with don't always make sense to your adult kids. The way you think about saving, spending, or debt probably came from a time when things cost less but work security mattered more.
Meanwhile, your kids are juggling a world of rising costs, side hustles, and digital banking. Neither approach is wrong-it's just different. Still, there are a few money moves you make that tend to leave younger generations scratching their heads.
Writing paper checks
You might still prefer writing checks to pay bills or send gifts because it feels secure and personal. It's what you've always done, and it keeps you in control of your payments.
Your adult kids, though, rarely use checks at all. With mobile deposits and automatic payments, they see paper checks as outdated or risky. What feels reliable to you feels inconvenient to them-especially when they have to find a pen and envelope.
Keeping a landline
You may still pay for a landline out of habit or for safety. It's dependable during power outages and doesn't rely on cell towers, which makes sense if you've lived through storms or emergencies.
To your adult kids, though, it's an unnecessary monthly expense. They rely entirely on their cell phones and see landlines as something from another era. But for many retirees, that old number still feels like a lifeline worth keeping.
Paying off cars before upgrading
You probably grew up believing that owning a car outright was the smartest move financially. No car payments meant peace of mind and fewer financial surprises.
Your kids, on the other hand, may trade in cars more often or lease them to keep newer models under warranty. They see it as convenient and low-stress, while you see it as throwing money away.
Refusing to pay for convenience
You're used to doing things yourself-mowing your own lawn, cooking meals, or handling small repairs. Paying extra for convenience feels wasteful when you know you can do it yourself.
Your adult kids often pay for time, not just service. Grocery delivery, meal kits, and house cleaning are normal expenses for them. They value the hours saved more than the money spent, which can make your frugal habits seem foreign.
Trusting cash more than cards
Carrying cash feels familiar because it keeps spending tangible. You can see what's left, which helps you stay on budget. Plus, you've likely seen technology fail enough to know cash always works.
Younger generations almost never carry cash. They tap, swipe, and Venmo their way through life-and might even forget their PINs. What feels smart and grounded to you feels unnecessary to them.
Refusing to finance nonessentials
You might find it strange that your kids finance furniture, phones, or vacations. For you, financing was something reserved for homes or cars-real investments that held value over time.
Today's "buy now, pay later" culture makes small financing normal for younger adults. It spreads out payments, but it also makes overspending easier. You probably see that risk clearer than they do because you've seen how quickly debt can snowball.
Saving physical paperwork
Keeping hard copies of tax returns, bank statements, and receipts gives you a sense of security. If something goes wrong, you know exactly where to find proof.
Your kids live in a digital world where everything is stored online. They see filing cabinets as clutter, not security. They trust cloud storage and encryption, while you prefer the comfort of a paper trail you can hold.
Avoiding online banking for big transactions
Transferring large sums online might make you uneasy. You prefer handling it in person where you can double-check the paperwork and talk to a real person.
Your adult kids are used to managing everything through an app-investing, transferring, and paying bills instantly. They see your in-person trips to the bank as unnecessary, while you see them as a safeguard against mistakes or fraud.
Holding onto older insurance plans
You might still have insurance policies that date back decades. They've worked well for you, and you value the trust and reliability of long-term providers.
Your kids often switch plans regularly to chase better deals or lower premiums. They don't always understand the value of stability and customer service because they're used to shopping around online for everything.
Seeing debt as something to avoid completely
You were likely taught that debt was dangerous and to be paid off as quickly as possible. Living debt-free felt like freedom, and it shaped most of your financial decisions.
Your adult kids see debt differently-more as a tool than a trap. They use credit strategically for rewards, travel perks, or building scores. To them, using credit is part of the system. To you, avoiding it is what kept your finances steady for decades.
*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.
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