Young man calls savings accounts 'dystopian,' questions why a 24-year-old with $5K wouldn't use that money to go to New York Fashion Week: 'It's more dystopian to not have savings.'

Author image for Emmy Pratt
Emmy Pratt • Senior Editor
Oct 28, 2026 5:15 PM EDT

It's pretty common for 24-year-olds to have nothing in savings. In fact, most 24-year-olds have a negative net worth from student loans or credit card debt, so any 24-year-old who has a positive net worth is something to celebrate. There is definitely such a thing as "living in the moment" too much, and if you willingly spend every penny you have on fun things, you're not going to be in a good position when you need your money for necessities. 

There was a time in my life when I spent nearly every penny I made. I did always make sure to save a percentage of my income into my 401K, but that was easy! After all, it came directly out of my paycheck, and I didn't even have to think about it. But from ages 22 to 24, I basically spent all the money I made on whatever I wanted: Broadway tickets, basketball games, Citi Bike day passes, you name it! I just made sure I never let my bank account drop below a certain amount, so I wasn't spending more than I made, and that was good enough for me at the time!

As I've grown older, I've recognized the importance of saving more for my future. It's not enough to just save 10% of your check for retirement! You need an emergency fund of 3-6 months to cover unexpected expenses. You need to invest in the stock market so your money grows instead of sitting in a regular savings account forever. If you want to go on vacation, set up a "sinking fund" so you can save specifically for that, instead of draining your retirement account to go to a resort. 

While some people are serious about saving money in their 20s, many aren't, even into their 30s, 40s, and 50s. Some adults with great jobs and kids still don't have $5,000 to their name, even though they make double that every month. When people have a high income but no savings, it points to a pattern of being undisciplined. If you can't delay pleasure and you buy everything you see, it's not a good sign for your long-term financial health. 

It is pretty darn common for 24-year-olds to spend every dollar they have. The young man in this story is probably around that age, and he's learning that most people aren't as willing to spend their life savings as he is. 

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  • 01
    Model walks runway with audience watching
    via Kenula Abeywickrama

    A model walks the runway at New York Fashion Week.

    Licensed media provided as editorial context.

  • 02
    @drew1wavy I find it so dystopian that people have savings accounts. You're 24 years old with £5,000 sitting there and you haven't even been to New York Fashion Week? What exactly are you saving for?
    via @drew1wavy
  • 03
    Miel TFCON ORLANDO BOUND @sailrstarscream If you're gonna blow your life savings at least do Paris fashion week
    via @sailrstarscream
  • 04
    #3 sisterwife but #1 in his hear @prettycritical ppl who are bad with money wanna bring you down with them so bad
    via @prettycritical
  • 05
    Weffrey Jellington ❤ @jeffwellz I understand the point about enjoying life in the moment but New York Fashion week being the example of a life changing event is hilarious. please this isn't Gossip Girl.
    via @jeffwellz
  • 06
    PoliticsBabe @Bellhookschild And this is why a lot of you won't have stable and secure retirements. It's not spend every penny
    via @Bellhookschild
  • 07
    Pistachio O @HarleyShah When you lose your job and can't pay rent but at least you saw Bella Hadid walk up and down.
    via @HarleyShah
  • 08
    RAY Forgotten Prose @forgottenprose People with rich families to fall back on asking poor people why they're so worried about money
    via @forgottenprose

    If your parents paid for all of your expenses throughout college, and you've never had to save up your paycheck from your summer job to pay your rent, you likely won't learn the value of saving your money until your parents cut their financial strings from you. For a lot of well-off people, that day never comes. Their parents might not pay their rent, but they might regularly give them money throughout their lives, which they can save to build a solid financial foundation without having to do any of the mental work of saving from their own paycheck.  

  • 09
    julia @glitterjuj for some people thats all they can afford to save:/ something is better than nothing if you can manage it
    via @glitterjuj
  • 10
    kasey d @kaseydcat I feel like it's more dystopian to not have a savings? Like not planning for the future??
    via @kaseydcat
  • 11
    julia @glitterjuj bro an emergency what if my car gets totalled and i have to buy a new one. what are you actually talking about
    via @glitterjuj
  • 12
    j* @j22905139 id argue a 24 year old with 5k in savings is actually a good thing
    via @j22905139
  • 13
    Rachel Tail @faerierachel They're calling it the worst financial literacy take of all time
    via @faerierachel
  • 14
    Aly @alykatt2004 5k seems scarily low for a savings account tbh
    via @alykatt2004
  • 15
    sacre @271226S Majority having the right reaction to this tweet. No one's coming to save you, a big chunk of change ain't landing on your lap and your parents are getting old. Keep growing your rainy day fund/savings. You can enjoy life once you're stable, wherever it's in your late 20s or 30s.
    via @271226S
  • 16
    dr. martens luther king @livgate thought this was satire but he's being de d serious
    via @livgate

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dystopia twitter saving money spending money finance finances savings money twitter discourse
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