Baby Boomers' Financial Habits Highlight Past Security and Current Cost‑Cutting

Financially secure members of the Baby Boomer generation built wealth by buying homes early and avoiding revolving credit. Homeownership rates rose sharply after their twenties, allowing mortgage payments to build equity, while credit‑card balances were treated as emergencies rather than routine spending.

Facing rising living costs, many Boomers are now trimming expenses. Surveys show they are cutting back on restaurant meals, food‑delivery services, premium cuts of beef, and organic or specialty groceries, opting for home‑cooked meals, cheaper meat cuts, and discounted produce to stretch limited budgets.