The Secret Economy: How Millennials and Gen Z Are Flexing on Instagram with Boomer Bucks

The Secret Economy: How Millennials and Gen Z Are Flexing on Instagram with Boomer Bucks

Ever wonder how your broke friend who makes $42K a year is somehow always on vacation in Tulum, buying $18 smoothies, and casually upgrading to the newest iPhone—twice a year?

Spoiler alert: It's not crypto gains. It's mom and dad.

Nearly 50% of parents are still financially supporting their adult kids. That’s right—almost $1,500 a month is flowing from boomers to brunch-loving millennials and Gen Zers.

Here’s how the modern hustle works:

Can’t afford rent? Call mom.

Overdrew the credit card on festival tickets? Text dad.

Blew your paycheck on dumb stuff and now need “diapers for the baby”? Use the grandkid excuse. Works every time.

Right now, the U.S. economy is basically being propped up by two groups:

Boomers handing out lifelines to their descendants

Top 10% earners buying luxury everything like a side quest

Everyone else? They’re just trying to make rent and maybe afford eggs.

So if you ever feel like you're falling behind while doing everything yourself, just remember: you're not poor, you're just unsupported in a cosplay economy built on parental bailouts.

Must be nice.