Americans Spend An Incredible Amount of Time Thinking About Money Every Day. You Won’t Believe the Numbers

Americans spend nearly four hours a day thinking about money—that’s almost half of a typical workday spent stressing about finances, according to a new survey from Empower. The survey reveals that money is a dominant preoccupation, especially for younger generations like Gen Z and Millennials, with topics like inflation and making ends meet at the top of their concerns.

This doesn’t mean Americans are just sitting back, stressed out, though.

“Here’s the silver lining: we’re seeing a real shift from passive worry to proactive behavior,” Rebecca Rickert, Empower’s head of consumer insights, said in the report. “People are motivated. They’re looking for tools, information, and advice to turn that energy into progress.”

Younger Americans Are Losing Sleep Over Money

According to a new survey of about 2,200 people, Americans think about money for an average of just under four hours every day. Those numbers were higher for younger generations, with Gen Z and Millennials thinking about money 4.8 and 4.7 hours per day, respectively. That compares with 3.7 hours for Gen X and only 2.4 hours per day for Baby Boomers.

More than half of the respondents said they’re thinking about money more than they were a year ago, and 55% said they were thinking specifically about their retirement at least once a week, with 27% thinking about it every day.

More than a third said that financial concerns are affecting their sleep, while about half (47% and 45%, respectively) said having a higher income or lower cost of living would ease at least some of their financial worries.

Bills, Inflation, and Financial Stress Are Driving Americans to Take Control of Their Finances

Americans aren’t thinking about money just to have it, but are focused on very real, immediate concerns. More than half of Americans said they think about paying bills and rising prices every day, making these the two most consuming financial worries in people’s minds.

However, Americans aren’t just sulking about their bills: 41% said they feel trusted financial information helps them make smarter decisions, and about a fifth said they’re seeking out financial news multiple times a week.

A third also said that conversations with financial advisors are helping them clarify their financial goals, with 47% saying they are confident they will reach those goals.

A third of respondents said they’re often thinking about ways to grow their wealth, while 40% of Millennials said they are actively working to improve their finances.

About 20% said they have significantly improved their credit scores, while another 20% said they have paid off at least one significant debt.

And many people are cutting back or reducing costs by dining out less (53%) or canceling subscriptions (33%).

Americans’ near-obsession with money—spending four hours daily thinking about finances—reflects mounting financial pressures in today’s economy. While younger Americans are bearing the heaviest mental load of financial worries, including sleepless nights, they’re also the most likely to channel that anxiety into positive action.