The group chat made the dream vacation happen. But for many Gen Zers, the real drama begins after the plane touches down, when those Venmo requests start popping up.
A June 30 study from Zelle reveals that 76% of Gen Z consumers who paid upfront for a group expense never got fully reimbursed. As this generation—born between 1997 and 2012—becomes a major force in group travel and shared experiences, more young people are footing the bill for friends. Yet settling the tab afterward is proving to be a nightmare, with some reporting damaged friendships or even debt.
“Money is already so complex and complicated, and you are putting a level of trust and faith in your friends to pay you back,” says Aja Evans, a licensed mental health counselor and financial therapist. “To know that you weren’t paid back… it’s just a really difficult strain on the friendship.”
Gen Z is already battling student loans, a cooling U.S. labor market, and skyrocketing living costs. They’re also bombarded with social media posts flaunting luxury high-rises, Michelin-star dining, and exotic getaways.
Evans says this pressure pushes many young people to spend beyond their means, whether it’s saying yes to pricey bachelorette parties, last-minute concert tickets, or lavish dinners. Nearly half of Zelle survey respondents admit they’ve gone into debt to cover group expenses.
“Can you actually afford this, or does this feel like more of a flex to other people?” Evans asks. “There’s a lot of pressure for people to present themselves in ways that their bank account might not be able to cash.”
She warns that going into debt for these experiences isn’t worth the toll it takes on friendships. “If you know somebody else owes you money, it’s going to be really difficult to see that they went to the latest and greatest hotel or restaurant.”
Among Gen Zers who fronted money and weren’t fully repaid, 55% say it damaged a relationship or caused tension, and 14% ended a friendship or relationship over the situation.
Today, there’s no shortage of tools to split costs—peer-to-peer payment services like Zelle, Venmo, and Cash App, plus apps like Tab, Splitwise, and Divvy. But none of that eases the awkwardness of frustrated group chat texts, Venmo reminders, and passive-aggressive comments.
The report highlights “payment avoidance” as a common social behavior, with 20% of Gen Z consumers canceling plans, muting texts, or ignoring messages to delay or dodge repayment.
Evans says this avoidance chips away at trust. “Say, ‘hey, this may take me a long time, but I do promise I’m going to repay you.’ Being honest and putting it out front, while very vulnerable, can actually bring your relationship closer together.”
Sometimes you just want to make the trip happen, but Evans advises setting a repayment plan from the start to “save you on the back end” when the group experience ends.
Rachel Hale’s role covering Youth Mental Health at USA TODAY is supported by a partnership with Pivotal and Journalism Funding Partners. Funders do not provide editorial input. Reach her at rhale@usatoday.com and @rachelleighhale on X.
