If you could step inside living rooms from Mumbai to Nairobi, scroll through conversations in London kitchens, or listen in on budgeting talks in New York apartments, you’d hear the same sigh, the same worry, the same question echoing through households:
“Prices are rising. Needs are multiplying. Savings are shrinking. Are we doing our best?”
Across 122,330 respondents from more than 60 countries, the TPS Pulse study on Money and Meaning paints a clear, honest picture of global financial life in 2025. It reveals not chaos, but constant adjustment. Not collapse, but compromise. And most importantly — how people feel about their finances today is less about thriving and more about trying to stay afloat with dignity.
Financial Comfort: Stable, But Stretched
When asked how comfortable households feel about money, the global mood is best described as: “We’re okay, but barely.”
- 57% say they feel comfortable or are managing fine
- 29% say things are “tight but manageable”
- 38% say their situation is difficult or very difficult
Some regions — like India, Egypt, and the UAE — lean toward feeling stable. But others — South Africa, the U.S., the U.K., Kenya, and Indonesia — report significantly more financial strain.
So, how do people feel about their finances today?
In one line: Stable enough to get by, but not comfortable enough to stop worrying.
Spending: Rising Everywhere, For Everyone
More than 57% of households say their expenses increased over the past year. And only 14% saw a decrease. The rise is nearly universal across India, South Africa, Nigeria, Italy, the UK, Egypt, and Kenya.
What’s Getting More Expensive?
According to the TPS visuals, three categories are hitting consumers the hardest:
- Groceries
- Utilities (electricity, water, gas, internet)
- Healthcare
Over 65% of people say these essentials rose sharply. These aren’t optional expenses — they’re the basics of survival. When the basics go up, everything else feels heavier.
Managing Monthly Bills: Confidence, But Not Comfort
Even with rising prices, households worldwide still believe they can manage their monthly expenses.
- The average confidence score is 3.72
- Confidence is higher in India, Egypt, UAE, Malaysia
- Confidence is lower in South Africa, the U.S., the U.K., Kenya
The takeaway?
People can manage — but only through discipline, trade-offs, and sacrifice.
Confidence does not mean comfort. It simply means people are adapting because they have no choice.
Saving Money: Harder Than Ever
The global average score for how easy it is to save is 3.13, showing that saving is possible — but difficult.
- Only 41% save regularly
- Everyone else saves occasionally, rarely, or not at all
Top barriers include:
- High monthly expenses
- Unexpected costs
- Family responsibilities
- Income instability
- Loan and EMI payments
In countries like South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Indonesia, and the U.S., unpredictable income is one of the biggest challenges.
This means something important:
People have less to put toward their future, and that makes the future feel uncertain.
Spending Priorities: Essentials First, Always
Across all countries and age groups:
- 86% focus on essentials first
- 81% of monthly budgets go toward must-have categories like groceries, health, and housing
- 75%+ check prices often before buying anything
This isn’t about poor budgeting.
This is about survival.
Consumers aren’t careless — they’re intentional, thoughtful, and extremely value-driven.
Tracking Money: A Mix of Apps, Habits, and Family Talks
Only 41.3% of people say they truly track their expenses. This could mean:
- Some households don’t have enough money left to track
- Others rely on informal methods like family discussions, mental notes, or weekly check-ins
Money management today is no longer just about tools — it’s about teamwork inside homes.
The Global Mood: Life Feels More Expensive Than Ever
About 83% of respondents say the cost of living feels high or very high.
People across continents feel the same financial pinch:
- Prices are rising
- Savings are shrinking
- Debts are heavier
- Job opportunities are uncertain
And yet — people continue to show resilience.
They plan.
They adjust.
They sacrifice.
They protect their families.
They chase small joys where they can find them.
A World Balancing Money and Meaning
How people feel about their finances today reflects a deeper truth:
Households are not giving up — they are fighting to live, not just survive.
And that is exactly what the TPS Pulse Research is built to understand:
Transforming real opinions into insights that reveal how people live, what they compromise, and what they hope for.