Generational Money Mindsets: Spending, Saving, and Investing

How Filipinos across generations are redefining what “money” means to them

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From Gen Z's side hustles to Boomers’ legacy plans, money means different things to every generation. For some, it’s freedom, while for others, it's security, comfort, or survival. And over the last decade, with the pandemic period having a major impact, the Filipino relationship with money has transformed in different ways.

Since 2015, Acumen has tracked how Filipino generations think, spend, save, and invest. What we're now seeing in 2025 through Project Alphabet is not just a change in financial behavior, it’s a complete shift in meaning. Filipinos today think about money with far more intentionality, discipline, and long-term focus than ever before.

1. From Survival to Intentionality: The Pandemic Effect

If finances in 2015 was a source of aspiration and stress for Filipinos, finances in 2025 has come to be defined by something new: Intentionality toward financial stability. Before the pandemic, many Filipinos, especially the younger generations, viewed money through a day-to-day lens. Budgets were flexible, purchases were spontaneous, and “future planning" felt like something only older generations worried about.

But the pandemic created a collective awakening. It reminded every Filipino, regardless of age, that life can change overnight. Uncertainty became real. Stability can disappear overnight, emergencies can happen anytime, and financial preparedness is not optional. Financial security now represents independence and peace of mind.

2. Money Has Shifted in Meaning Across Generations