The other day, I was chatting with my grandson while we were taking my dog for her evening walk around the park. He’d just gotten his first “real” paycheck from his part-time job and was already planning how to spend every penny on the latest gadgets and trendy clothes.

It got me thinking about the stark difference between how my generation approached money versus how young folks handle it today. Don’t get me wrong—I’m not here to bash anyone. But watching the financial stress that seems to plague so many younger people these days, I can’t help but wonder if some of the old-school habits we boomers picked up might actually be worth dusting off.

I mean, the numbers tell a pretty sobering story. A survey by Lending Club found that over 60% of Americans say they’re living paycheck to paycheck. Even more telling? Only 1 in 4 Americans (25%) say they feel fully financially secure in 2025, a drop from 28% in 2023.

That’s a lot of people losing sleep over money.

And here’s the thing: financial stress isn’t just about having less money in your bank account. Researchers have noted being in debt and having outstanding loans, for instance, correlates significantly with elevated stress levels and reduced mental wellness.

So maybe it’s time we looked back at some of those “boring” boomer habits that actually worked?

1. Buying reliable over flashy

You know what always makes me chuckle? Walking through a parking lot and seeing a beat-up Honda next to a shiny BMW, knowing there’s a good chance the Honda owner has more money in the bank.

Experian Automotive reported that nearly two-thirds of families making more than $250,000 annually opt for mainstream vehicles like Honda, Toyota, and Ford rather than premium brands. Think about that for a second. People who can afford the fancy stuff often choose not to buy it.

My generation learned this lesson the hard way. We figured out that a car’s job is to get you from point A to point B safely and reliably. Everything else is just expensive decoration.

Sure, that luxury car might feel nice for the first few months, but when you’re making payments for the next six years, the shine wears off pretty quickly.

The same principle applies to everything from phones to furniture. Ask yourself: does this thing actually make my life better, or am I just buying it because it looks impressive?

2. Saying no to lifestyle inflation

Here’s something I see all the time with younger folks: they get a raise or a better job, and immediately their spending jumps to match their new income. Suddenly they “need” a bigger apartment, fancier dinners out, and a whole new wardrobe to match their new status.

As investor Warren Buffett famously said, “The difference between successful people and really successful people is that really successful people say no to almost everything”. That man knows what he’s talking about.

When I got promotions back in my working days, I had a simple rule: live like I was still making my old salary for at least six months. That extra money went straight into savings. It wasn’t always easy—trust me, the temptation to upgrade everything was real. But that discipline is what allowed us to weather the tough times and eventually retire comfortably.

3. Cooking at home (and loving leftovers)

I can already hear the groans. “But, I don’t have time to cook!” Look, I get it. Life moves fast these days. But hear me out.

My wife and I cooked at home not because we were cheapskates, but because we learned it was one of the easiest ways to control our spending without feeling deprived. A home-cooked meal that feeds four people might cost $8 in ingredients. That same meal at a restaurant? Probably $40 or more.

And leftovers? Don’t even get me started on how much money people waste by turning their noses up at perfectly good food from the night before. Some of my best lunches were yesterday’s dinner reheated with a little creativity.

Here’s what younger folks might not realize: cooking becomes enjoyable when you stop seeing it as a chore and start seeing it as a life skill. Plus, you know exactly what’s going into your body, which is worth something these days.

4. Paying cash whenever possible

This one might sound old-fashioned, but stick with me. When you pay with cash, you feel the transaction in a way that swiping a card just doesn’t replicate.

I’m not saying you need to stuff your mattress with dollar bills. But there’s something powerful about physically handing over money for a purchase. It makes you pause and think: is this really worth it?

Credit cards make spending feel abstract. That $200 dinner doesn’t feel like real money when you’re just tapping a piece of plastic. But counting out ten $20 bills? That hits different.

The other benefit of cash is that it’s harder to spend money you don’t actually have. With credit cards and buy-now-pay-later schemes, it’s easy to trick yourself into thinking you can afford something. Cash keeps you honest.

5. Finding contentment in what you have

This might be the most important habit of all, and honestly, the hardest one to develop in today’s world.

My generation grew up with a lot less stuff, and somehow we were pretty happy about it. We had one TV, one car (if we were lucky), and clothes that we wore until they literally fell apart. The idea of buying something new just because we were bored would have seemed crazy.

Social media has made this so much harder for young people. Everyone’s constantly seeing what others have, and it creates this endless cycle of wanting more. But here’s what I’ve learned after six decades on this planet: there will always be someone with more than you, and there will always be something new to want.

The real secret to financial peace isn’t making more money—it’s wanting less. That doesn’t mean living like a monk, but it does mean being intentional about what you choose to want.

I still get excited about things, don’t get me wrong. But I get excited about a good book from the library, a nice walk with my dog, or watching my grandkids discover something new. Most of the best things in life really don’t cost much.

The real payoff

Look, I’m not trying to turn everyone into penny-pinching hermits. Money is meant to be spent, and life is meant to be enjoyed. But with so many people struggling financially and feeling that stress in their daily lives, maybe it’s worth considering that some of the old ways weren’t so bad after all.

These habits served my generation well not because we were smarter or better, but because we learned them when we had to. Times were different, money was tighter, and we figured out what really mattered.

The beautiful thing about financial discipline is that it actually gives you more freedom, not less. When you’re not worried about money all the time, you can focus on the stuff that really counts.

So what do you think? Are any of these old-school habits worth trying in your own life?