Your age directly influences your willingness to pay for an item. What an older adult might consider a normal household expense, a young person might barely even notice or consider. We’ve gathered information from PEW Research Center, AARP, and other sources to reveal the situations where older Americans would prioritize spending their money, while younger people might avoid doing so!
Cable or Satellite TV
Satellite or cable television is watched less and less by younger people, as they prefer to turn to online streaming, YouTube, or internet-based programs. According to a Pew Research Center study, 64% of Americans over the age of 65 subscribed to cable or satellite television in 2025. In contrast, only 16% of young people aged 18 to 29 held such a subscription. Older adults might keep television as part of their spending to stay informed, whereas young people may choose social media to achieve the same goal.
Printed Newspapers and Magazines
Older adults remain more connected to print news compared to younger people. According to a PEW Research Center study, 37% of adults over the age of 65 in the United States occasionally consume printed newspapers or magazines. In contrast, only 18% of young people under 30 turn to this method. For many older adults, spending on a physical newspaper remains part of a morning ritual.
Checks and Other Paper-Based Banking
Although the U.S. Federal Reserve is attempting to move away from paper checks, they have not yet disappeared. 33% of consumers reported making a payment using this method in 2025, specifically within the 30 days prior of being surveyed according to the Federal Reserve Bank. Older adults continue to use this method more than older adults, as younger people opt for digital wallets, spending through payment apps, and other alternatives.
Traditional TV News Packages
Older adults watch television to keep up with news from their country and the world. Among those over 65, 75% choose cable, satellite, or broadcast television for this purpose. In contrast, according to PEW Research Center, only 42% of 30-year-olds use these media. While older adults might flip between CNN, Fox News, local stations, and other channels younger people turn to social media and podcasts, changing their spending on traditional media.
Prescription Drugs and Medical Services
Paying for medical services or needing to take prescription drugs more frequently is often associated with older adults, as health issues tend to arise with age. According to the BLS, healthcare accounted for 7.9% of total household spending in 2024, with average annual healthcare expenditures reaching $6,197 per consumer unit. Healthcare spending increased 0.6% from 2023 to 2024, while prescription drug spending increased 21,7%.
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Medicare Supplements and Other Extra Health Coverage
Insurance is another issue that often arises as people age, and it can become a significant household expense for older adults. Some may view premium coverage as a wise choice before facing a large, unexpected medical bill resulting from a sudden health issue. Individuals in this age group might budget their spending for Medicare supplement coverage, Medicare Advantage-related expenses, or other types of coverage.
Organized Tours and Curated Travel
According to AARP, 86% of Americans over the age of 50 list travel among their top three discretionary spending priorities for 2026. People in this age group are particularly interested in joining travel groups and experiencing professionally curated itineraries. They pay to have others handle transportation, planning, accommodation, and other logistics. On the other hand, younger travelers might simply stay in a rental and use public transportation without giving it much thought.
Travel Upgrades for Comfort
As mobility and accessibility become increasingly important with age, older adults prioritize convenience when traveling. AARP research indicates that mobility assistance was cited by adults requiring accommodations in a 2025 survey. These travelers might prefer non-stop flights, better seating, and accessible rooms and other amenities that would not necessarily be deal-breakers for younger travelers.
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Charitable Donations
According to a PEW Research Center analysis, 59% of adults over the age of 65 donated more than $25 to a non-political organization in the year prior to the survey, compared to 31% of young adults aged 18 to 29. Older adults are more likely to make meaningful charitable contributions because they tend to be further along financially, whereas younger adults may be dealing with rent, student debt, and other expenses.
Traditional Home Maintenance Services
Unlike younger people, older Americans are more likely to own their own homes, which entails handling expenses such as lawn care, tree trimming, gutter cleaning, HVAC maintenance, pest control, and more. Many older adults may hire specialists to handle these tasks, as the physical labor involved might be too much for them. Conversely, few young people who own homes might opt for DIY repairs when necessary.
Furniture and Household Goods Built for a Permanent Home
If you are at a stage in life where you own your home, it’s natural to want to spend money on dining sets, recliners, and mattresses, much like older adults do. However, many young people are still paying rent for a home they do not own, so there is less incentive to invest in their own furniture. Instead, they tend to opt for IKEA-style pieces, items from secondhand marketplaces, or simply low-cost options to limit their spending.
Things Younger People Expect Their Phones to Replace
Mobile phones are among the items that have replaced many products adults once purchased separately. Young people use their phones to handle tasks once performed by printed calendars, alarm clocks, standalone GPS units, paper address books, calculators, cameras, and physical newspapers. As a result, smartphones have changed spending habits by eliminating the need to buy and replace many of these individual items.
Conclusion
Some decisions made by older adults stem from lifelong habits, while others are indeed linked to age-related differences. Since older Americans often own their homes and face higher healthcare costs, their approach to spending and investing differs. Meanwhile, younger people have been so shaped by technology that they do not even consider many of the expenses incurred by previous generations.
