Emily Sundberg, creator of the Feed Me newsletter, dives into the financial anxieties of Gen Z in New York City. She describes a generation bracing for economic doom—convinced AI will wipe out jobs, capitalism is rigged, and no safety net exists. Their response? A mix of frantic hustle ("secure the bag") and deliberate spending, reshaping how they invest, consume, and plan for a future they don’t fully trust.

Editor’s Note: Money mindsets reveal deeper cultural shifts. If young professionals feel the system’s stacked against them, it affects everything—from their Starbucks orders to their 401(k)s. This isn’t just about budgets; it’s about a generation redefining success (and survival) in a world they expect to burn.