What 25-Year-Olds Think About 2025
The 21st century is having a milestone birthday. We asked people also turning 25 about their hopes and fears for the new year.
Turning 25 is a big deal, for individuals and a new century. We asked 25-year-olds from around the world what excited or scared them about 2025, how they’d sum up the next year and what they were looking forward to. This being Bloomberg Businessweek, we also asked how they’re spending their money. Many phones and laptops were mentioned, along with more adventurous purchases: plane tickets, a wedding dress, a puffy coat. Mia Houser, of Davenport, Florida, got food (“I ate a fancy breakfast this morning for $60”), while Gabriela Esposito, of Boston, spent $500 on a new dog (and a vet bill). Overall the twentysomethings seemed cautiously optimistic about what 25 would bring, if a bit annoyed at older folks. When asked what previous generations don’t understand about Gen Z, Cam Rodriguez replied, “The current economy,” writing that “I can only get a minimum wage job with a law degree.” Rodriguez added, “In California, generally speaking, if you do not come from generational wealth, you are living paycheck to paycheck with two jobs.” Edited for clarity.
Adira Putri, Jakarta
What are you looking forward to most next year?Working at a full-time job.
What was the last big purchase you made?Nothing, as I am still a student.
What’s the next big purchase you hope to make?Apartment.
What are you most worried about?Worrying about life in general often boils down to uncertainties about the future, career paths, relationships or even finding a sense of purpose. It’s the weight of trying to live up to expectations (both our own and others’) while figuring out who we truly want to be.
What do you think older people don’t understand about your generation?I think many older people might not fully understand how much our generation’s world revolves around rapid technological change and constant connectivity. We’ve grown up in an era where information is instant, opportunities are global and self-expression is often tied to digital spaces. Because they were taught and learned differently, often in more structured, slower-paced environments, they might not grasp how adaptable, yet overwhelmed, we can feel navigating this landscape.
What five words sum up 2025 for you?Transformation, opportunity, growth, adventure and breakthrough. This year feels like a pivotal moment, one where I aim to embrace transformation by stepping outside my comfort zone and evolving into the best version of myself. It’s a year filled with opportunity, where I plan to seize every chance to learn, grow and achieve milestones I’ve been working toward. It’s also about growth, not just in my career or academics but as a person developing resilience, wisdom and confidence.
Nat Tadjudin, Atlanta
What are you looking forward to most next year?Having my frontal lobe developed! Also accelerating my career.
What are you most worried about?What the US will look like under Trump’s administration.
Where do you get your news?TikTok.
What do you think older people don’t understand about your generation?That we are actually hardworking given our circumstances.
What five words sum up 2025 for you?Change, resilience, innovation, challenges and hope.
Sophia Ingram, Denton, Texas
What are you looking forward to most next year?I am looking forward to moving out of my outdated apartment and into a newer building with better management. By February, I will be a certified yoga teacher, and I’m excited to start instructing.
What was the last big purchase you made?I just bought a self-cleaning litter box from PetKit (the PuraMax 2), along with some accessories (litter bags, air fresheners, etc.). After Black Friday discounts, the total cost was $518. It’s not something I can afford to pay off on my credit card right away, but I’ve been wanting to upgrade for a few months, and I didn’t want to miss out on the sale.
What’s the next big purchase you hope to make?I can see myself buying a car in the next year. I want to avoid making any more $200-plus purchases outside of traveling, so I can better save for that.
What are you most worried about?That I’ve been spending money frivolously, and I will be in a bad spot if an emergency happens, or I won’t be able to afford the cost of living when the Trump administration enacts the tariffs they promised.
What do you think older people don’t understand about your generation?They think we are too emotional, that we dream too much. The reality is we just want to be able to live comfortably and happily, and we want that for everyone else, too.
Jade Walters, Chicago
What was the last big purchase you made?A solo birthday trip to Cancún at an all-inclusive resort. I spent around $2,700, and it was worth every single penny. It was my first time traveling solo internationally, and I left feeling so brave and rejuvenated.
What’s the next big purchase you hope to make?I currently live in Chicago, but I want [to go] back home to NYC in fall 2025. I’ve been working on saving up so I can get a beautiful apartment. I’ve spent three years imagining moving back to New York, and now that it’s actually happening, I want to do everything I can to financially support myself in my dream city.
What are you most worried about?Despite being successful in my career, I worry about the longevity of it.
What do you think older people don’t understand about your generation?Just because we don’t stay at a company for years doesn’t mean we’re lazy and don’t want to work. We want new challenges. We want to be in environments that help us grow. We want to escape our micromanager bosses. We want to be in places where we feel appreciated and valued. If a work environment isn’t any of those things, we’re not afraid to choose ourselves, because we know that we’ll always land at the next best thing. Choosing yourself and knowing your worth should never be something to be ashamed of. Gen Z is resilient and will always stand up for what’s right.
What five words sum up 2025 for you?You are worth the bet.
Emily Garlock, Anchorage, Alaska
What are you looking forward to most next year?I’m getting married and moving!
What was the last big purchase you made?A wedding dress ($2,500).
What’s the next big purchase you hope to make?Besides wedding expenses, moving expenses!
What are you most worried about?Personally, finding a job in the next year when I move. I’ve already been applying and either get ghosted or rejected. I’m also worried about the state of the US and what the next few years will look like politically and socially.
What do you think older people don’t understand about your generation?I think older people view our generation as lazy and naive, but I argue quite the opposite. While our generation does things differently, it doesn’t make it bad or ineffective.
What five words sum up 2025 for you?Adventure, growth, building, change, joy.
Gigi Bao, Oxnard, California
What are you looking forward to most next year?I am currently continuing my study in nutrition. I most look forward to gaining different experience at various professional settings when the internship portion of the program begins.
What was the last big purchase you made?A car ($28,000).
What’s the next big purchase you hope to make?I really want a Dyson V15 vacuum.
What are you most worried about?I am always worried when something spontaneous happens that disrupts my plans. It could ruin my whole day.
What do you think older people don’t understand about your generation?Back at home in Hong Kong, the older people sometimes do not understand that studying hard is not the only way out. I do agree that studying is essential for getting a professional job, but so many strict parents solely focus on academics without caring for their kids’ mental health.
What five words sum up 2025 for you?Growth, stability, transition, wellness, friendship.
Pablo Torne Pano, Los Angeles
What are you looking forward to most next year?AI/Bitcoin takeover.
What was the last big purchase you made?A moped ($2,200).
What’s the next big purchase you hope to make?A business or investment property.
What are you most worried about?Not being retired by 45.
What do you think older people don’t understand about your generation?How lonely it is for the people that want to work hard and complain little.
Andrea Moreno, San Francisco Bay Area
What are you looking forward to most next year?2024 was really rough in all aspects of my life—professional, personal, romantic, etc. I’m looking to 2025 as the year to take all that I’ve learned from these difficult moments and put them into play and hopefully see some good come out.
What are you most worried about?What this new election will bring to the people around me. In a way, I’m fortunate enough to live in the California bubble. However, I worry that this bubble will eventually pop. I’m worried for friends and family around me who are under DACA [Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals]. I’m worried what this means for minorities, women and queer people. I’m worried about what this means for our climate. I’m worried for what this means for our global relationships. I’m worried how some of these “bigger picture, larger than me” issues will eventually trickle down and affect my family’s and my day-to-day life.
Where do you get your news?Podcasts for global news, TikTok for more localized news, media websites for deeper dives.
What do you think older people don’t understand about your generation?Just because things have been one way for your entire life doesn’t mean it has to continue to be that way for ours. I think older generations may see this as “rebellion” or “lazy” or “delusional,” but I think in a way our generation is trying to break cycles, some of which we have seen negatively affect our parents or grandparents.
What five words sum up 2025 for you?The year of new beginnings.
Atish Shah Rouniyar, Wichita, Kansas
What are you looking forward to most next year?Getting an internship or job.
What was the last big purchase you made?A Mac ($1,350).
What’s the next big purchase you hope to make?A house.
Where do you get your news?YouTube.
What five words sum up 2025 for you?Get the damn job soon.
Jonah Koslofsky, Chicago
What are you looking forward to most next year?Probably the new Paul Thomas Anderson movie.
What was the last big purchase you made?Tyler, the Creator concert tickets.
What’s the next big purchase you hope to make?Plane tickets.
What are you most worried about?Climate change, fascism, genocide, continued slow cancellation of the future.
What do you think older people don’t understand about your generation?How long do you have? They aren’t willing to take the radical action needed to face the challenges the future presents. They also made all these problems in the first place.
What five words sum up 2025 for you?Swag city population no one.
Katie Murphy, Holliston, Massachusetts
What are you looking forward to most next year?Personally, I’m looking forward to growing in my career and moving out of my parents’ home and into my first apartment.
What was the last big purchase you made?My last big purchase was a Louis Vuitton bag to celebrate my promotion at work. It cost $2,420 and was worth every penny.
What’s the next big purchase you hope to make?I think a couch for my apartment will be the next big purchase. Home furniture is all so expensive, but I’ve been able to slowly put savings away for apartment furniture. The goal will be $5k for furniture alone.
What are you most worried about?Having kids. I always dreamed of having kids at 28 (the age my mom was when she had me), but I’m terrified to have kids under the new administration in case something goes wrong. I hate the idea of waiting just because of the administration, but I feel like I may not have a choice.
What do you think older people don’t understand about your generation?We can’t be your scapegoat. For so long, I heard that our generation would be the ones to fix the environment and fight for equality for all, and yet now I’m in my mid-20s, and it doesn’t feel like much has changed. It feels burdensome and overwhelming.
Chloe Hipwell, Philadelphia
What was the last big purchase you made?Groceries ($40). I’m so broke and don’t buy much for myself other than food.
What’s the next big purchase you hope to make?A sewing machine for my leather projects.
What are you most worried about?The lack of safe places for people who aren’t straight White men.
Where do you get your news?Instagram.
What five words sum up 2025 for you?Excitement, growth, fear, worry, anxiety.