After a stressful working day, a delicious meal, favorite dish, or a date with friends can become a way for young people to reward themselves. But expenses to find immediate joy sometimes make them anxious when the day of salary is still far away.
Reward yourself a little this month, save again next month" is a familiar thought of many young people before out-of-plan expenses.
After work, they order a more expensive meal than usual; weekend shopping, going for coffee or hanging out with friends. Each amount is not too large, but when combined, the amount can make personal financial plans deviate.
Le Nhat Nam, 28 years old, an office worker, said that the pressure of work has gradually formed a habit of self-rewarding after tiring days.
“Some days when working is very stressful, I tell myself to order a delicious meal. Sometimes I buy an item I like or hang out with friends for coffee and gatherings. Each time it's only a few hundred thousand VND, so when spending, I don't feel sorry,” Nam said.
According to Nam, the problem only becomes clear when he adds up the expenses spent at the end of the month. Food, coffee, shopping and meeting friends costs up to several million VND per month.
There are evenings when I lie down to calculate how much is left until the day I receive my salary. At that time, I realize that the amounts I spend for fun for a few hours make me worry for several days. There are months when I spend beyond my expectations, I have to borrow more from friends. When I receive my salary, I rush to pay off debts, and the rest must be saved until the end of the month," he recounted.
Nam's story shows that the pressure does not necessarily come from a large purchase. Many times, it is the repeated small expenses that cause personal budget erosion.
An IFM Research survey conducted in June 2026 with more than 1,200 people nationwide showed that 49% of respondents said savings decreased in 2026, while 32% recorded savings increase. The consumer confidence index is at 57/110, showing that spending sentiment is still quite cautious.
Notably, the survey recorded that 58% of spending increases came from inflation, while 42% came from increased consumption. In the context of price pressure on the budget, non-essential expenses are considered more carefully.
However, financial pressure does not mean that young people completely give up enjoyment. Nguyen Thi Thuy Tien, 26 years old, working in the media field, once considered shopping and eating as a way to relieve stress after stressful working days.
“Every time work is too stressful, I often open a shopping app. There are items that are not really needed but I see they are discounted or I still buy them if I like them. When I pressed the payment button, I felt very happy,” Tien recounted.
There are items that are only used once or twice afterwards; even lying in the closet for a long time. Looking back at the expenses, Tien realizes that the motivation to buy goods is often not a need.
The hardest thing is to distinguish whether I bought it because I really like it or just because I was too tired and bored that day and wanted to find another joy," Tien said.
After a while, Tien began to record expenses and set aside a fixed amount for non-essential needs. This method helps her still enjoy but limits emotional shopping.
Young people's financial concerns are also reflected in recent surveys. Deloitte's Gen Z and Millennials 2026 survey shows that living expenses continue to be the top concern of both generations. More than half of Gen Z and Millennials said they have delayed major life decisions due to financial constraints.
Meanwhile, PwC Vietnam's 2025 Consumer Survey shows that 48% of consumers see economic instability as the top risk in the next 12 months. Price increases and affordability are also among the biggest challenges for consumers.
Amidst the figures on living expenses and savings ability, Nam and Tien's story shows another angle of financial pressure: young people not only have to earn enough money, but also have to decide when to use money to reward themselves and when to stop.
A cup of coffee, a delicious meal or a favorite item is not the cause of a financial imbalance. It is noteworthy that when each time you are tired, there is an expense, shopping can gradually become a reflex to improve mood.
The joy therefore only lasts for a few hours, while the money spent may affect the rest of the month.
That loop starts from pressure, turns into a disbursement item and then returns in the form of financial pressure.
For young people, the question is probably not only "how much have I spent?", but also "am I buying what I need or am I using money to find a pleasant feeling?
