These are Americans' top financial regrets -- and what to do about them

Most Americans have some form of financial regret in 2025, according to a new Bankrate survey.

While some may think of buyer’s remorse, Bankrate asked participants what they wished they’d done differently as far as finances go.

This can range from not saving enough for a rainy day or possibly taking on too much student loan debt.

What they're saying:

"While a majority of Americans still admit to harboring some remorse over their past financial decisions, the decrease is a step in the right direction," said Bankrate Financial Analyst Stephen Kates, CFP. "One consistent takeaway from this study every year is the durability of 'not saving enough for retirement' as a regret. The percentage of people with this regret grows with age as retirement draws closer. Younger Americans should look to the future to avoid the mistakes of their older counterparts."

Majority of people have financial regret

Though slightly less than in 2024, most people surveyed still said they had a financial regret in 2025.

By the numbers:

2025: 74% had a financial regret

2024: 77% had a financial regret

Top reasons for financial regret

More than 1 in 5 (21%) said they do not have any financial regrets and 5% said they don’t know.

Gen X more likely to have financial regret

Dig deeper:

Adults who fall in the Gen X category (45-60) are more likely than other generations to have a financial regret at 83%.

Millennials (29-44) are at 76%, baby boomers (61-79) at 75% and Gen Z (18-28) at 63%.

The most popular reasons for financial regret for all generations were not saving early enough for retirement and credit card debt, Bankrate said.

Big picture view:

Of the people who said they had a financial regret this year, less than half said they have made no progress toward addressing it in the past 12 months.

• 43%: No progress
• 42%: Some progress
• 15%: Significant progress

What they're saying:

"More Americans are reporting making no progress on their regrets this year," added Kates. "This is troubling because while it's unrealistic to expect to make perfect financial decisions all the time, having regrets doesn't mean you can't fix them or make improvements over time. It is the small incremental changes applied consistently over time that make the biggest impacts."

Additionally, when asked what could make their financial situation better for the future, participants said lower prices on essentials such as groceries and gas (30%), better job opportunities (11%), lower rent (10%) and rising stock market values (7%).

One in 10 Americans said nothing would improve their financial situation in the near future, Bankrate’s survey said.

By generation, cheaper essentials was the most popular reason that would help improve their money issues.

• Baby boomers: 36%
• Millennials: 30%
• Gen X: 30%
• Gen Z: 20%

Gen Z also noted that better job opportunities would greatly improve their financial standing.

Tips on how to get rid of your financial regret

What you can do:

While it may feel too late to start saving or debt just feels like an impossible mountain to climb, experts at Bankrate have a few tips to share that will help get you on the path toward financial stability. 

• "It’s really never too late to start." Take advantage of employer 401(k) matching if available and make sure to start putting away a few dollars for emergencies.
• "Start small." Make a list of all your cards, their balances, interest rates, and minimum payments then work on choosing a payoff method that would best fit where you are financially.
• "Use Your Regrets as Motivation."

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