• Business Insider vibecoded a quiz to determine which generation a user's spending best matches.
• An AI tool implemented our methodology using estimates we took from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
• Here's how the tool used the data to figure out where someone's spending habits best aligned.

Editor's note: The following methodology text was generated using the AI tool from Vercel that powers this quiz, then reviewed and lightly edited by our team.

The "What's Your Spending Age?" quiz compares a user's monthly household spending habits against generational averages from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Consumer Expenditure Survey. The quiz determines which generation's spending patterns most closely match the user's own, regardless of their actual birth year.

Data Source

All benchmark spending data comes from the 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, which tracks annual household spending across various categories by age group/generation.

The BLS data has been mapped to five generational cohorts based on birth year ranges.

Generation Definitions

GenerationBirth YearsGen Z1997 and laterMillennials1981 - 1996Gen X1965 - 1980Boomers1946 - 1964Silent Gen1945 and earlier

Spending Categories

Users enter their monthly spending across 8 categories. These map to BLS Consumer Expenditure categories as follows:

Quiz CategoryBLS CategoryIncludesGroceriesFood at homeAll food purchased for home consumptionDining OutFood away from homeRestaurants, takeout, deliveryHousingShelterRent or mortgage, property taxes, home insurance, maintenanceUtilitiesUtilities, fuels, and public servicesElectric, gas, water, phone, etc.ApparelApparel and servicesClothing, shoes, accessoriesTransportationTransportation (including gasoline)Car payment, transit, rideshare, gasoline, insurance, maintenanceEntertainmentEntertainment (excluding pets)Streaming, events, hobbies, fees and admissionsPetsPetsFood, vet, supplies

BLS Annual Spending Benchmarks (2024)

The following annual spending amounts (in USD) are used as benchmarks for each generation:

CategoryGen ZMillennialsGen XBoomersSilentGroceries$4,454$6,759$7,331$5,696$4,196Dining Out$3,162$4,586$4,793$3,251$2,116Housing$13,844$18,467$19,048$13,585$12,625Utilities$2,697$4,679$5,641$4,714$4,040Apparel$1,660$2,491$2,535$1,461$767Transportation$10,083$14,856$16,366$12,093$5,336Entertainment$1,854$2,933$3,376$2,449$1,749Pets$353$909$1,127$827$671Total$38,107$55,680$60,217$44,076$31,500

Calculation Methodology

Step 1: Convert Monthly to Annual

User-entered monthly spending values are multiplied by 12 to get annual figures for comparison against BLS annual data.

Annual Spending = Monthly Spending × 12

Step 2: Calculate Distance to Each Generation

For each generation, we calculate a "distance score" by summing the relative percentage differences between the user's spending and the generation's benchmark in each category:

For each category:

Category Difference = |User Value - Benchmark Value| / Benchmark Value

Category Difference is capped at 2.0 (200%) to prevent outliers from dominating

Total Distance = Sum of all Category Differences

A lower distance score means the user's spending more closely matches that generation.

Step 3: Determine Closest Generation

The generation with the smallest total distance score is identified as the user's "spending generation" — the generation whose spending habits most closely match their own.

Step 4: Calculate Match Strength

Match strength is expressed as a percentage indicating how closely the user's spending aligns with their matched generation:

Max Possible Distance = Number of Categories × 2.0 = 8 × 2.0 = 16

Match Strength = ((Max Distance - Actual Distance) / Max Distance) × 100%

A 100% match means the user's spending exactly matches the generation's averages. Lower percentages indicate more deviation from the matched generation's patterns.

Step 5: Identify Biggest Difference

Among all categories, we identify which one shows the largest percentage difference between the user's spending and their matched generation's benchmark:

Difference % = |User Value - Benchmark Value| / Benchmark Value × 100%

Persona Assignment

Based on the combination of the user's birth generation and their spending generation, one of 25 unique personas is assigned. These fall into three categories:

Match Personas (5 total)

When birth generation equals spending generation:

• Gen Z → Gen Z: "True Gen Z-er"
• Millennial → Millennial: "Classic Millennial"
• Gen X → Gen X: "Peak Gen X"
• Boomer → Boomer: "Quintessential Boomer"
• Silent → Silent: "Silent Standard"

Spending Younger Personas (10 total)

When the user spends like a younger generation than their birth generation.

Spending Older Personas (10 total)

When the user spends like an older generation than their birth generation.

Limitations and Notes

• BLS data represents national averages and may not reflect regional cost-of-living differences.
• The quiz covers 8 major spending categories but does not include all possible household expenses (e.g., healthcare, education, childcare, savings).
• Results are for entertainment purposes and general comparison only, not financial advice.

*Based on 2024 averages reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey.

Read the original article on Business Insider