Boomers and Gen Z can spend money on the same things, but their reasons for doing it can look surprisingly different.
1. Premium Credit Cards
Boomers often use established cards for convenience and rewards, while Gen Z is turning premium cards into a hobby. Gen Z and Millennials now account for more than 75% of U.S. premium-card sign-ups, with younger users chasing airport lounges, travel points and perks.
2. Travel
Boomers are more likely to travel without radically changing plans when prices rise: KPMG found 49% of Baby Boomer+ travelers planned to travel as expected despite higher costs, compared with just 15% of Gen Z. Younger travelers were much more likely to trade down or cut trips.
3. Home Improvements
Boomers are spending on homes they already own, while many Gen Z adults are still renting. That creates a striking contrast: one generation is upgrading kitchens, bathrooms and outdoor spaces while the other is often trying to make a temporary apartment feel like home.
4. Dining Out
Boomers still represent substantial restaurant spending, but Gen Z approaches food differently. Younger consumers are much more comfortable discovering restaurants through social media, while older diners are more likely to stick with familiar establishments.
5. Specialty Coffee
Gen Z and Millennials are driving more than 60% of U.S. coffee-category growth, according to NIQ. Boomers remain major coffee consumers—but younger buyers are much more likely to turn coffee into an experience, from specialty drinks to premium cafés.
6. Little Treats
Gen Z is far more likely to justify an impulse purchase as a reward: 74% said they deserved a little treat, compared with 50% of Boomers. Boomers, meanwhile, were more likely to make an impulse purchase because something was a good deal—71% versus 63% of Gen Z.
Sources
- Wall Street Journal, 2026 — Premium credit-card trends
- KPMG Consumer Pulse, Summer 2026 — Generational travel behavior
- NielsenIQ, 2026 — Generational spending and coffee trends
- USA Today/PartnerCentric, 2026 — Generational impulse-purchase survey
