60% of Millennials Reduced Their Spending as a Result of the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting social distancing guidelines prompted Americans to reassess their spending habits. Across different generations, millennials were a prime example of consumers adjusting their spending on travel, food, and alcohol.

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Clutch

Jun 16, 2020, 08:48 ET

WASHINGTON, D.C., June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Sixty percent (60%) of millennials decreased their spending habits as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new survey from Clutch, a B2B ratings and reviews platform.

Only 5% of millennials spent more money in March and April.

0% of millennials ordered takeout 1-2 days a week since social distancing began in March

The top four expenses for millennials during the coronavirus pandemic are:

Groceries (40%)
Alcohol (13%)
Restaurants (8%)
Health and beauty (3%)

An article in Business Insider describes millennials as "the generation paying for things that were previously seen as taboo by their parents," such as rentals, plastic surgery, and ridesharing. Their spending habits are also seen as a result of technological and economic advancements.

This generation has also experienced fallout from two recessions.

Millennials factored necessities into their budgets but found themselves cutting back on different luxuries and adjusted their plans accordingly.

Nearly Half of Millennials Cut Back on Travel

As travel regulations took effect, 40% of millennials stopped making vacation plans for 2020.

Twenty percent (20%) of millennials canceled scheduled trips, and only 15% continued making travel plans for the rest of the year.

Mason Miranda, a credit industry specialist at Credit Card Insider, and his wife found hiking and sightseeing to be perfect opportunities for adventure that fit within their budgets and within social distancing guidelines.

Small car trips might be the new normal for the travel industry as regulations continue to adapt.

Half of Millennials Still Ordered Takeout 1-2 Days a Week During the Pandemic

Although millennials spent less dining out at restaurants, 50% are still eating takeout and ordering delivery during the coronavirus pandemic.

"In March and April, I was cooking and eating from home a lot more than usual, but in May, I got tired of cooking and ate out a lot more," said Tess Robison, a content specialist at Money Done Right.

Only 28% of millennials did not use pickup and delivery options for their meals.

Those who continued ordering out had different reasons for their decisions.

Some felt that it was hard to recreate some of their favorite dishes.

Others ordered takeout to support their local businesses, like Michael James Nuells, who was furloughed by Disney at the start of the pandemic: "I've been making an effort to eat out more and order takeout to support my local economy," he said.

The U.S. has begun efforts to reopen the country, but Americans should consider what changes they'll continue to create smarter spending habits that will last a lifetime.

Read the full report here: www.clutch.co/accounting/resources/millennial-spending-habits-covid-19.

For questions about the survey, reach out to Kristen Herhold at [email protected]

About Clutch

Clutch is the leading ratings and reviews platform for IT, marketing, and business service providers. Each month, over half a million buyers and sellers of services use the Clutch platform, and the user base is growing over 50% a year. Clutch has been recognized by Inc. Magazine as one of the 500 fastest growing companies in the U.S. and has been listed as a top 50 startup by LinkedIn.

Contact
Kristen Herhold
[email protected]
(202) 840-6690

SOURCE Clutch