Sometimes, being an adult doesn’t feel like the solid milestone it used to be. For Gen Z, “adulting” is less about buying a home or having kids and more about managing student loans, side gigs, and burnout while scrolling through TikTok for financial advice.
In a survey by Life Happens (2024), 71% of Americans say adulting is harder now than it was 30 years ago—and Gen Z agrees. They’re navigating a version of adulthood that’s more digital, more expensive, and, frankly, more confusing.
Still, some misunderstandings are making the climb even steeper.
Thinking financial independence happens overnight
Many Gen Zers equate “adulting” with being able to pay their own bills—but half still rely on family for financial help. According to Life Happens, only 56% say they feel like adults when they can cover expenses alone. The reality?
Financial independence often builds in layers—emergency savings first, then credit, then long-term stability. It’s less a switch and more a staircase. Real adulthood means learning to manage setbacks without falling apart when rent spikes or a car breaks down.
Thinking social media advice equals experience
Nearly 4 in 10 Gen Zers say they learn about money from TikTok or YouTube, GoBankingRates notes. The problem? A viral “hack” rarely includes nuance—like tax implications or hidden fees.
Financial education from credible sources may not trend online, but it’s what keeps real adults out of trouble. Scrolling for guidance isn’t wrong, but cross-checking advice before acting is what separates a follower from a grown-up.
Believing a degree guarantees stability
College once felt like a sure path to financial security, but that promise has frayed. CNBC reports that roughly 29% of Americans say a college degree is not worth the cost, and about 49% believe it’s not important for getting a well-paying job today. Many people have opted out of traditional college due to high debt and low job returns.
Adulting, in this sense, means facing the messy truth: education matters, but adaptability matters more. Those who keep learning through certifications or online courses often outpace peers who stop once the diploma’s framed.
Confusing hustle with security
Side gigs are a Gen Z badge of pride—almost half hold at least one. But constant hustling can disguise deeper instability. Without benefits, paid leave, or predictable income, burnout arrives fast.
True adulthood isn’t working endlessly; it’s learning to create structure and sustainability. A balanced life, with time to rest, budget, and plan, beats endless “grindset” culture every time.
Mistaking convenience for competence
Food delivery, auto-pay, and AI tools make life easier, but they also blur the line between independence and dependence. Knowing how to do things the long way—budget manually, cook a basic meal, read a pay stub—still matters. Adulting isn’t about rejecting convenience; it’s about using it without losing basic competence.
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Forgetting that resilience takes practice
Employers praise Gen Z’s tech skills but question their ability to handle rejection or monotony. It’s not a character flaw—it’s a generational learning curve.
Previous generations had more unfiltered experiences with failure; Gen Z faces softer landings through algorithms and support networks. But life eventually tests everyone. Resilience isn’t built by avoiding pain—it’s forged by facing it and coming back smarter.
Underestimating the cost of “freedom”
Freedom looks great on social media—until you meet the electric bill. Many Gen Z adults delay moving out because of housing costs that have skyrocketed beyond inflation. IPropertyManagement’s statistics highlight that 38% of renters spend more than 35% of their income on rent.
Additionally, younger households rent longer and at greater rates due to the rising unaffordability of homeownership. Independence isn’t about cutting all ties; it’s about finding balance. Roommates, side gigs, or family help don’t make someone less adult—they make survival possible in a system that’s tougher than their parents’ era.
Assuming mental health struggles mean failure
Adulting is stressful, and Gen Z is honest about that. But asking for help doesn’t mean someone’s failing at life—it means they’re human.
Older generations bottled up stress; Gen Z talks about it, which is progress. The trick is pairing that awareness with real coping tools like therapy, community, and boundaries.
Treating credit like a trap instead of a tool
CNBC reports that half of Gen Z doesn’t have a credit card, often out of fear of debt. Ironically, that caution can hurt them. Without a credit history, renting apartments or qualifying for loans becomes harder.
Responsible credit use—paying in full and on time—isn’t a trap; it’s leverage for financial flexibility. Building credit early is one of adulthood’s quieter power moves.
Believing authenticity means oversharing
Gen Z prides itself on “being real,” yet even they admit it’s complicated. Many feel pressured to perform authenticity online while struggling with insecurity offline.
Adulthood teaches that self-expression doesn’t always require public validation. Sometimes the most grown-up move is setting privacy boundaries—knowing that your worth isn’t tied to your feed.
Expecting work to always feel fulfilling
Gen Z grew up on the idea that passion should drive career choices. Yet real life often includes dull tasks, bad bosses, and long stretches of “just paying the bills.”
Gen Z values skill development, flexibility, and mental well-being over long-term loyalty to a single employer. Adulting sometimes means showing up even when it’s not inspiring, then using that paycheck to create freedom for what truly matters later.
Thinking adulthood has a deadline
Gen Z often feels “behind” when comparing themselves to older generations who hit milestones earlier. But the average age Americans feel like adults is now 27, five years later than Gen X.
The delay isn’t failure; it’s a reflection of new economic realities. Adulting has never been a race—it’s a timeline that bends with circumstance, not shame.
Believing they’re doing it all wrong
Here’s the truth: no generation nails adulthood perfectly. Gen Z’s challenges—rising rent, unstable jobs, digital overwhelm—are unlike anything before. Yet they’re also the most adaptable, creative, and self-aware group entering adulthood.
The misunderstanding isn’t that Gen Z is “bad” at adulting—it’s that society hasn’t updated the playbook. The world has changed faster than the definition of maturity has caught up.
Key takeaways
Financial experts call this moment “an urgent call to champion financial education and personalized guidance.” That’s not condescension—it’s recognition that the system is outdated.
The real adult test ahead isn’t about earning more or grinding harder; it’s about redefining success around stability, literacy, and mental well-being. If Gen Z can master those, they won’t just catch up to adulthood—they’ll reinvent it.
Disclaimer – This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information. It is not intended to be professional advice.
Disclosure: This article was developed with the assistance of AI and was subsequently reviewed, revised, and approved by our editorial team.
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