By Alicia Tyler on August 13, 2026 Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Why Gen Z is getting better at saying “I can’t afford it” 

By Alicia Tyler on August 13, 2026 Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Setting financial boundaries might feel awkward in the moment, but learning when to say no is a money skill that can pay off for life.

There was a time when telling your friends, “Sorry, I can’t afford it,” felt more uncomfortable than quietly putting a night out on your credit card.

A pricey birthday dinner? You went. A destination wedding that required a flight, hotel, and three new outfits? You just figured it out. A group trip you hadn’t budgeted for? Saying no meant admitting that money was the reason, and for many people, that’s enough to make them say yes anyway. 

Gen Z is starting to change that. From talking openly about the cost of experiences to opting out when something isn’t in the budget, younger Canadians seem to be more and more willing to set financial boundaries—and even saying them out loud.

“I’d say in general, Gen Z is more vocal about boundaries, whether it’s their finances or in their career or their personal life, than probably any other generation,” says Jessica Moorhouse, an accredited financial counsellor and author of Everything but Money.

Why is Gen Z more comfortable saying no?

Part of the shift may simply be that this generation came of age with a louder voice. Social media gave young people a public platform much earlier than previous generations had, Moorhouse says, and allowed them to compare experiences and question some of the norms they inherited.

They’ve also had plenty to question. Gen Z entered adulthood during COVID-19, soaring housing and living costs, and a difficult job market. Moorhouse believes watching older generations deal with everything from overwork and stagnant wages to financial mistakes may have encouraged some young people to ask why they should continue........

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