Oct 26, 2026

5 Viral Gen Z Money Hacks Ranked by Financial Risk

If you've spent more than 12 seconds on TikTok, Instagram or YouTube, you've probably encountered a self-proclaimed financial guru explaining how they became rich beyond their wildest imagination by the ripe old age of 23. To follow suit, all you have to do is start a series of side hustles, mindset shifts, affiliate links and work within what appears to be a suspicious amount of natural lighting.

Sure, social media can be a great source of financial inspiration and budgeting hacks, but according to Melanie Musson, finance expert with Quote.com and Clearsurance.com, one should be wary of money hacks that sound too good to be true — because they usually are.

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"Or, they may work in very specific situations, but are unlikely to provide widespread success," she said. "Watch out for hacks that involve spending money to make money, finding foreclosed properties and establishing ownership, and finding loopholes to avoid taxes.”

The most effective money habits are often the least exciting and orbit around good old long-term planning. This is why you need to work on your own financial literacy and take the majority of unvetted, yet viral, financial advice with a grain of salty skepticism.

Here are five Gen Z influencer money hacks ranked from merely questionable to definitely in need of an adult.

5. Skip Your Daily Coffee and You'll Be Able To Buy a House

Financial advice ranking: Questionable

This classic refuses to die. “If you haven’t heard of it and they’re calling it a “hack,” red flags should start flying,” said Musson. “Finances aren’t tricky. They’re straightforward. Earn, save, invest, spend. If you get those in the right balance, you’re set.”

According to this theory, eliminating about $7 a day for a latte will somehow transform you into Warren Buffett by the time you retire. While saving money on small purchases can help your budget, most financial experts agree that big expenses like housing, transportation and debt typically have a larger impact on long-term wealth building than whether or not you get upsold on adding organic cashew milk to your coffee.

4. Charge It for Points

Financial advice ranking: Mildly concerning

Even though credit cards can be useful and are often a necessary tool for your daily transactions, some of the points-hacking information and strategies that carry hidden risks are suspect at best.

“Credit card points really can be great, but not if they lead you to spend money you shouldn’t have spent,” said Musson. “If you buy a vacation for $1,000 and don’t pay it off at the next billing cycle, you’ll pay in the range of $20 in interest, or about $20 a month. And if you did well and earned the equivalent of 3% in points, you will get a benefit worth $30.”

Keep in mind, after a year, your $30 benefit looks pretty ridiculous compared to the $240 in interest, Musson added. “Those are simplified figures, but it gives you an idea of why spending with a credit card to earn points isn’t a good plan,” she said.

3. Buy Now, Budget Later

Financial Advice ranking: You should be getting nervous

Buy now, pay later deals lead many consumers to spend money they don’t have or give in to the temptation of every impulse they wish to purchase.

“Usually, they do it with the assumption that they will have the money soon. However, it’s hard to keep track of what you’ve bought with BNPL,” said Musson. “Then, when you do get your paycheck, you have obligations that still need to be paid, like housing, utilities and insurance. By the time you pay that, you might not have enough for what you bought with BNPL.”

2. Take the Gamble on Day Trading

Financial advice ranking: Read the fine print

According to many a financial bro, day trading, meme stocks and crypto speculation trends are all ways to get rich quick. However, remember that these things only have value if people believe they do, and skepticism is increasing.

“Day trading is essentially gambling. It’s fun and exciting. You can win big, but that just pulls you back in to win bigger, and what will end up happening is you will lose bigger,” said Musson. “If you have a diversified investment portfolio, you’re paying your bills, and you have an emergency savings account funded, then go ahead and spend a little money that you’re willing to lose on these high-risk ventures, but don’t put your future on them.”

1. Following Someone’s Skincare Routine Along With Their Real Estate Advice

Financial advice ranking: I need an adult

Welcome to the championship round of questionable tips, tricks and the ever-coveted hacks. Buying a house is often high on the list of financial goals. However, Musson noted that owning property comes with its share of risk.

“If you have a delicate balance of spending and earning with real estate and one thing goes wrong, your entire empire can crash very quickly,” she pointed out. “Real estate can be a great investment, but you need to be prepared to carry a lot of risk when you do it, and that means you need to have adequate savings and cash flow. So, if something goes wrong, you can deal with it.”

This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.

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Written by

Caitlyn Moorhead

Edited by

Cory Dudak