How are Americans thinking about spending?

The current economy is changing how Americans manage their money, according to new research.

A recent survey of 2,000 general population Americans revealed that eight in 10 (77%) have changed the way they manage their finances as a result of ongoing economic conditions.

With the majority (86%) feeling that the economy remains uncertain — and six in 10 (58%) believing a recession is inevitable — people are doubling down on predictability, stability and long-term control when it comes to their spending.

Commissioned by Affirm and conducted by Talker Research, results found that half (50%) want to keep cash available for unexpected expenses or financial uncertainty, two in five (41%) want to manage their budget with fixed, predictable payments, and over a third (36%) are thinking more long-term than ever about their finances.

This is unsurprising, given the average respondent predicts today’s financial uncertainty will last for 10 more months.

In response to these challenges, two in five (39%) are prioritizing strategies like avoiding credit card interest or fees. Americans are also taking active steps to strengthen their financial know-how.

More than one in four (28%) are improving their financial literacy, nearly one in four (23%) are exploring how to make different payment options work for them and about one in five (19%) are seeking more value from their financial providers to stay ahead in today’s climate.

Additionally, most respondents (83%) are focused on what they can control with their finances.

“Control means prioritizing predictability,” said Vishal Kapoor, Affirm’s SVP of Product. “That’s why nearly half of consumers (49%) named ‘no surprise fees’ as their top priority when making purchases this year. Affirm is built to support this need — with transparent terms and no late or hidden fees, we help people spend smarter and plan with confidence.”

In addition to “no surprise fees,” just over two in five respondents (41%) pointed to interest-free offers, and roughly one in three (35%) valued the ability to spread payments out over time — further underscoring their long-term mindset.

Over a quarter (27%) highlighted the need for clear timelines for when payments are due, while two in five (41%) emphasized a need to manage their budget with fixed, predictable payments.

All of these priorities tie back to what respondents find important when managing their money in the current economic climate — control, predictability and total clarity when managing their money.

“Consumers clearly want more from their financial tools. They want payment solutions that help them manage their budgets, avoid surprises and stay financially resilient,” Kapoor added. “That’s exactly what we were built for. From options like 0% APR offers to predictable monthly payments, we’re giving people greater flexibility and peace of mind as they plan for the future.”

Survey methodology:
Talker Research surveyed 2,000 general population Americans; the survey was commissioned by Affirm and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between March 21–25, 2025.

We are sourcing from a non-probability frame and the two main sources we use are:
● Traditional online access panels — where respondents opt-in to take part in online market research for an incentive
● Programmatic — where respondents are online and are given the option to take part in a survey to receive a virtual incentive usually related to the online activity they are engaging in
Those who did not fit the specified sample were terminated from the survey. As the survey is fielded, dynamic online sampling is used, adjusting targeting to achieve the quotas specified as part of the sampling plan.

Regardless of which sources a respondent came from, they were directed to an Online Survey, where the survey was conducted in English; a link to the questionnaire can be shared upon request. Respondents were awarded points for completing the survey. These points have a small cash-equivalent monetary value.

Cells are only reported on for analysis if they have a minimum of 80 respondents, and statistical significance is calculated at the 95% level. Data is not weighted, but quotas and other parameters are put in place to reach the desired sample.

Interviews are excluded from the final analysis if they failed quality-checking measures. This includes:
● Speeders: Respondents who complete the survey in a time that is quicker than one-third of the median length of interview are disqualified as speeders
● Open ends: All verbatim responses (full open-ended questions as well as other please specify options) are checked for inappropriate or irrelevant text
● Bots: Captcha is enabled on surveys, which allows the research team to identify and disqualify bots
● Duplicates: Survey software has “deduping” based on digital fingerprinting, which ensures nobody is allowed to take the survey more than once
It is worth noting that this survey was only available to individuals with internet access, and the results may not be generalizable to those without internet access.