From home repairs to money, some Gen Zers are discovering that the people who once seemed hopelessly un-techy can actually be useful when the problem gets practical.
1. Home Repairs
YouTube can show how to fix almost anything, but knowing what actually needs fixing is another skill. A 2025 survey of 2,000 U.S. homeowners found 75% of Gen Z homeowners typically DIY at least some projects, while 18% regretted not knowing how to make repairs themselves.
2. Money
Gen Z has endless financial content online, but confidence is another story. A 2025 WalletHub survey found more than one in four Gen Z adults weren’t confident in their financial knowledge, making parents’ experience with bills, credit and household budgets surprisingly relevant.
3. Cooking From Scratch
Recipes are everywhere, yet knowing how to turn whatever is already in the refrigerator into dinner is different from following a 30-second video. That’s one area where parents’ and grandparents’ practical experience can suddenly become valuable.
4. Cars
Modern cars can feel like rolling computers, but basic knowledge—checking fluids, understanding warning lights or knowing when something sounds wrong—still matters. Older family members often learned those habits before cars became dominated by screens and sensors.
5. Household Paperwork
Taxes, insurance, leases and other boring documents don’t become easier just because they’re digital. Parents who have dealt with the same paperwork for decades can provide context that a quick online search often can’t.
6. The Stuff Nobody Taught in School
The bigger trend may be less about Gen Z being incapable and more about realizing that practical knowledge doesn’t always come from formal education. A 2026 Canadian youth-finance study found 90% of parents regularly talk to their children about money, yet only 9% strongly believed their child was ready to manage money independently.
Sources
- This Old House — Generational DIY Survey
- WalletHub — Generational Finances Survey
- Mydoh/RBCx — Financial Resilience Report 2026
- Frontdoor — Survey: How Parents Teach Their Kids DIY in a Digital Age
