Gen-Zers Are “Soft Saving”—And It’s Helping Them Make Real Progress

My wallet is feeling thinner by the minute, and my patience with it all? Even thinner. I like to think I’m keeping up with the state of the economy—I mean, I’m still able to pay my bills, but my savings goals feel like they are only getting further away. Finding a few spare bucks for a little treat on top of that? Forget about it. More often than not, I’m daydreaming about simpler times. You know, when I could save money and do some online shopping damage all in the same day without feeling bad about it… I’m just a girl!

There are enough savings plans, hacks, strategies, and accounts out there to make anyone feel like they should be doing more than what they are already struggling to do. But recently, a trend called “soft saving” surfaced, shifting the narrative on how to save effectively without feeling strapped for cash.

After learning more about what soft saving is, I was instantly on board—and I have a good feeling you’ll be interested too. I tapped Lauren Bringle, an Accredited Financial Counselor and Head of Training at Self Financial, to break down the trend. Ahead, everything you need to know about soft saving: what it is, why it’s becoming so common (especially among Gen-Zers), and what you need to know if you want to get in on it.

MEET THE EXPERT

Lauren Bringle

Lauren Bringle is an Accredited Financial Counselor® and Head of Training and Customer Insights at Self Financial, a credit-building platform with products that make building credit accessible for people with low or no credit. She’s passionate about empowering women to not just survive but thrive in life, career, and money. Lauren has been featured in publications including Real Simple, The Newsette, The Washington Post, HerMoney, Time Next Advisor, Mint, iHeart Radio, LifeHacker, and more.

What is soft saving?

“Soft saving is a more thoughtful and flexible approach to saving money that makes saving sustainable over time,” Bringle explains. Instead of stressing over hitting strict goals, soft saving encourages you to prioritize balance and implement low-stress, sustainable choices that help you reach your goals. This approach allows you to make progress toward your financial future without feeling deprived of the little things in life that bring you joy.

Since strict savings goals and schedules (like saving $200 per week, for example) can often feel unrealistic at times, soft saving encourages implementing small, gentle shifts that allow you to save whenever and however you can. This doesn’t mean you don’t have savings goals; it just means you are more flexible in your approach to hitting them. According to Bringle, this requires being “a little more mindful and a little more strategic” with your money, but doing so in a way that feels totally doable as opposed to overwhelming.

For example, soft saving can look like keeping your morning latte but skipping the lunch delivery order, or keeping Netflix while pausing other subscriptions, or only ordering one mimosa at brunch instead of two. “The key is finding areas in your spending where you won’t really miss the cutbacks, and then redirecting those dollars toward your bigger goals,” explains Bringle. “It’s not about deprivation, it’s about prioritization,” Bringle adds.

Why is soft saving becoming so popular?

With financial uncertainty being around every corner and the fact that everything keeps getting more expensive, saving money, especially consistently, can feel straight-up unrealistic at times. We all feel this! But this is especially true for Gen-Zers, who are struggling to secure a steady paycheck and keep up in this economy. More than half of recent college graduates are still looking for work, and three-quarters of Gen-Z say that the economic landscape is making it harder to plan their finances. Soft saving offers “a sense of control, progress, and financial tranquility without the pressure of perfection,” Bringle adds, which is why Gen-Z has been so quick to adopt it.

Instead of throwing in the towel or feeling discouraged when they can’t keep up with traditional savings plans and strict goals, soft saving is sticking because it encourages them to prioritize what matters to them and save what they can, when they can. (Progress is progress!) Not to mention, for the Gen-Zers who are all about “enjoying the here and now,” soft saving gives them the permission slip they’ve been looking for to prioritize the present, all while still acknowledging and planning for their financial future.

Are there pitfalls to soft saving?

While soft saving can feel more balanced and, well, oftentimes more enjoyable than alternative savings methods, there are definitely some downfalls to note. Bringle explains that “Soft saving is a great entry point,” making it a smart option for those who need to get into a savings habit or just don’t have a lot of spare money to save. However, “it has its limits,” she warns. “If you’re only saving when it feels convenient or never increasing your goals over time, you might fall short when bigger financial challenges arise,” Bringle explains. Think about it: A job loss, medical bills, or car repairs always come unexpectedly, and an “I’ll save what I can” mindset can leave future-you short. Additionally, because soft saving often prioritizes enjoying the present, it’s easy to justify impulse spending or lifestyle creep.

A sound solution? Connecting your savings to a “why.” Why are you ditching the delivery fee? What purpose does that extra money serve for future-you? Is it to save for a new car? Pay down your student loans? Renovate your half bath? Move closer to home? Having a strong “why” will help keep you connected to your goals and motivated to save more efficiently.

How to soft save effectively

So many savings strategies require a total financial overhaul or a spreadsheet that, quite honestly, makes my eyes go crosseyed. But rest assured that if you want to start soft saving, whether you’re a Gen-Zer or not, it requires little legwork. Here’s what you need to do:

Identify your priorities

With soft saving, you don’t have to give up everything you love to save more money, but it helps to pinpoint what you’re willing to cut back on and what you’re not. Maybe your monthly cleaning service is nonnegotiable, but you could stand to scale back on Uber Eats deliveries. Think about what you genuinely enjoy and what makes your life easier to identify your priorities. That way, you can trim costs in other areas without feeling like you’re making major sacrifices.

Set “soft goals”

Traditional savings goals often sound like “I’m saving $5,000 for a car in six months,” but according to Bringle, a soft goal allows for more flexibility and grace. For example, your soft goal might sound like “I want to buy a car sometime this year, so I’ll start by saving $200–$300 a month when I can, and I’ll look for extra ways to contribute.” This approach leaves room to adapt to life’s unexpected changes—like a rent increase or an emergency expense. Instead of abandoning your goal entirely when plans shift, soft goals give you a steady framework that can adjust with your circumstances.

Add checkpoints to your calendar

Before you begin soft saving, open up your calendar app and add financial check-ins. These are the days and times when you’ll sit down with your finances and assess your habits and progress. Maybe you have them weekly when you’re getting started and monthly as you grow more comfortable with soft saving. Adding these check-ins to your calendar will keep you accountable to your goals and allow you to adjust where necessary.

Celebrate progress

Bringle reminds us that “even saving $10 here and there adds up,” so don’t forget to recognize and celebrate your progress, no matter how small it may seem. Think about it: Over time, “that money could help you pay off a credit card a little faster or build up your emergency fund,” she encourages. Whether you’re able to save $5 per week or $50, your savings contributions and the progress you’re making toward your goals are worth celebrating. Plus, it never hurts to pat yourself on the back for added motivation.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Hailey Tagliarino, Assistant Managing Editor

As Assistant Managing Editor for The Everygirl, Hailey Tagliarino oversees, writes, and edits content across various categories on the site. From the pitching stage through publishing, she works alongside the team to ensure that the content that our readers see every day is inspiring, relatable, and timely.

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