Milk, Micro-Weddings, and Allowances
The big wedding is dead, but dairy somehow survived?
Is Gen Z still chugging cow’s milk like it’s 1999?
We had to ask: is anyone under 30 still pouring a cold glass of the real stuff?
Turns out...yeah. 63% of our Youthtellers (ages 15-27) say that they still consume traditional milk, with 38% specifically reaching for whole milk—full fat, no apologies. Plant-based milks are definitely in the mix (29% say that’s their go-to), but dairy hasn’t been canceled just yet.
We were a little surprised. But in the age of Crumbl cookies and “little treat” culture, it actually tracks: 35% say they drink milk with dessert. Another 45% are just riding the nostalgia wave—milk is what they grew up with, it’s comforting, it’s familiar.
Still, not everyone’s vibing with dairy right now. The recent FDA rollback on testing raised more than a few eyebrows, with 33% saying it made them uneasy. One 28-year-old in Los Angeles didn’t mince words:
"I think we shouldn't be drinking milk at all right now with all the safety issues."
So yes, Gen Z is still drinking milk—but it’s less about wellness or aesthetics and more about cravings, comfort, and childhood habits. The trust, though? That’s what’s going sour.
Allowance? In This Economy? Gen Z Said Absolutely Not
Teens are stocking up on Drunk Elephant, college students are out on Wednesdays like it’s the weekend, and high schoolers somehow always have a social calendar. So… where’s all this spending money coming from? Spoiler: it's not mom and dad.
86% of our Youthtellers (ages 15–27) say they don’t get an allowance at all. Sure, 38% had it sometimes growing up, and 35% never saw a single chore-dollar. The weekly allowance? Retro.
Instead, 43% are working part-time gigs, and 22% are running side hustles. The rest are doing the classic Gen Z juggle: buying concert tickets but still on the family phone plan, paying for groceries not rent.
Gen Z might not rely on their parents for pocket money, but most still get support where it counts, just not in the old-school , $100-a-week kind of way. When it comes to “fun money”—skincare splurges, thrifted fits, spontaneous happy hours, they’re footing the bill themselves.
The Big Fat Wedding Is Dead. Long Live the Micro-Ceremony.
The oldest of Gen Z is turning 28 this year, and they’re either getting married or collecting save-the-dates. And while 83% of them still want monogamy and 62% want families (per our American Dream research), the fantasy of a big, over-the-top wedding? That’s starting to fade.
In today’s recession-brained economy, weddings are shrinking fast. Scroll through social during peak wedding season and it’s clear: the energy is less “My Big Fat Wedding” and more "we wore fashion-forward outfits to our courthouse wedding and served a heart-shaped cake from Walmart."
76% of our Youthtellers (ages 15–28) have attended a wedding in the past two years—but over half (54%) say it was for immediate family. And when it is for a couple they actually believe in? Gen Z will show up. They’ll even fly out. Just don’t expect a huge gift—54% say they scale it back to cover travel costs. Honestly, fair.
When it comes to their own weddings, 38% say they want something small and intimate. Backyard, courthouse, and local church—think low-key, not low-effort.
And as for wedding “traditions”? Gen Z is over it. Here’s what they’re done with:
“You must invite everyone in your family!”
“I would say no to that. It’s your day, your guest list. If you haven’t spoken to Aunt Susan in 10 years, there’s no reason to feel pressured to invite her.” — 27 Y/O from Atlanta, GA
“The bride’s family pays for the wedding.”
“In this economy?!” — 29 Y/O from Inglewood, CA
“Gendered bridal parties.”
“Hard pass.” — 24 Y/O from Brooklyn, NY
The age of performative, picture-perfect ceremonies is out. In its place? A celebration that actually makes sense: smaller guest lists, less pressure, and a lot more meaning. Authenticity over aesthetics. Always.
*This article was originally posted on Substack. Click HERE to subscribe