There’s a loud silence that falls over a table when the check comes at a group dinner. This silence isn’t peaceful, it’s tense. Everyone at the table suddenly starts doom scrolling on social media resisting the urge to look up or mouthing the lyrics to the song playing over the speakers even though they’ve never heard it before. Finally, one brave soul reaches for the leather billfold like they’re volunteering as the tribute in The Hunger Games.

If you’re over 21 and have an active social life, you’ve lived this scene before. While dinner may seem like a harmless social activity, it often reveals something much deeper: how people behave when money is involved.

The group dinner, as we’ll discuss, is less about food and more about character. It’s where you discover which friends consistently expect others to subsidize their lifestyle, finance their irresponsibility, or absorb the cost of their bad habits.

Let’s meet the usual suspects that show up at a group dinner. Some of them would make Anna Delvey proud.

The Dinner Socialist

A committed practitioner of Dinner Redistribution Economics: private consumption, shared liability. We all have this friend. They order appetizers “for the table” even though no one asked, upgrade to the market-price entrée, drink countless cocktails like they’re auditioning for Sex And The City, and then they confidently deliver five of the most audacious words when the bill arrives: “Let’s just split it evenly.”

Suddenly, the friend who is on the 75 Hard diet and only ordered a Caesar salad and water is financing the items in their friend’s perfectly edited and curated dinner photo for the Gram.

To be fair, splitting the bill isn’t inherently deceptive. In most cases, it’s practical. It keeps the evening moving and avoids turning the bill into the math section of the SAT. But equal isn’t always equitable. If one person ordered 80% of the tab, asking everyone else to split the bill is cost redistribution disguised as social etiquette or payment efficiency.

The uncomfortable reality is that the Dinner Socialist makes sure that the financial burden is quietly passed across the dinner table, like a bread basket, from the financially irresponsible friend to the polite friend who prefers to avoid bill drama.

Over time, resentment compounds faster than interest on a Buy Now, Pay Later loan after a missed payment.

The Magicians

Every group has one. The friend who somehow vanishes the moment they owe money. The end of the meal usually occurs innocently enough. One financially responsible person offers to put the entire bill on their credit card. It’s efficient. If played well, that person earns points or cashback. Everyone agrees to reimburse them immediately. The volunteer didn’t take on any significant financial risk. In theory.

In reality? Half the table pays before leaving the restaurant. A few people pay during the Uber ride home. Another person pays the next morning. And then there’s the Magician, the one who disappears from paying.

Days pass. Then weeks. A Venmo request gets “liked” but not paid. Text messages become gentle collection notices and suddenly you feel less like a friend and more like an accounts receivable department. These people treat their friend’s money like a personal credit line.

What makes this behavior so irritating isn’t necessarily the dollar amount. It’s the entitlement. The assumption that someone else’s money should finance their lifestyle…indefinitely and interest free. Nobody wants to become a debt collector among friends.

The Magicians phones are never too far away to post Instagram stories or put fire emojis under pictures of celebrities they don’t even know, but always too far away to send the money that they owe in a timely manner.

The Mathematicians

You know the scene. The bill arrives and the table agrees everyone should pay for exactly what they ordered. Smart phones emerge. Calculators appear. People start speaking in numbers like they are auditors working for EY.

Yet somehow, every single time, the table tally comes up short of the total. Every. Single. Time.

The Mathematicians forget to account for tax, skip the gratuity, or mysteriously omit the second margarita that witnesses clearly remember them drinking. The table suddenly becomes an episode of CSI: Restaurant Edition. And because nobody wants to interrogate an adult over $45.47, one generous person decides to cover the shortfall. The underpayer remains silent. Despite all of the advanced calculus that takes place, these individuals never seem able to accurately calculate the full cost of their meal.

Funny how that works.

Friendship Shouldn’t Require Subsidies

Modern friendship comes with a social “tax”. Between keeping up with the Jones’, group trips, Venmo requests, Zelle reminders, dinners at the hottest new restaurants in town, and bar tabs — you can calculate the cost of membership for your social circle. And somewhere between “I got the next round”, “just split it evenly,” and “let’s book a luxury trip to…”, some people have crossed into a territory no one wants to talk about: financially abusing their friends.

That may sound dramatic. But if your social life routinely leaves you subsidizing someone else’s appetite, irresponsibility, or lifestyle choices, what else would you call it?

None of this is really about dinner. It’s about financial responsibility — or the lack thereof — among our friends. Social situations involving money reveal who feels entitled, who is responsible, and who quietly expects others to absorb the cost of their choices.

Real friends don’t treat friends like interest-free lenders. And they definitely don’t go out champagne spending while on a beer budget expecting someone else to pick up the tab.

The next time the check arrives at a group dinner, pay attention. You might discover the most expensive thing on the table isn’t the wagyu steak. It’s the friendships.

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There’s a quiet takeover happening and it’s sweeping through the online shopping carts and checkout pages on every website, the same way crack cocaine swept through the inner cities in the 80’s. “Buy Now, Pay Later” (BNPL) has exploded from a niche payment option into the default button for a generation raised on one-click convenience and same-day delivery. Tap it, and suddenly that $600 item can be yours today for just $150. It feels harmless and manageable.

That’s exactly the problem.

Let’s be clear, BNPL is not inherently bad nor is it the villain in your financial story. A tool can build or destroy depending on who is using it. The problem is not the product. The problem is the behavior of the user.

Used correctly, BNPL is one of the oldest money-saving tactics in the book, repackaged in modern UX and pastel-colored apps with names that sound more like skincare brands than lenders.

What Actually is BNPL?

At its core, BNPL products are short-term loans; it is debt. The lender allows the borrower to split a purchase into smaller installment payments, often interest-free, over a short period (typically four payments over 6–8 weeks). However, if you miss a payment, interest kicks in.

Let’s keep it real: “four easy payments” is debt with better branding. That branding is the difference between “I’m taking on debt” and “I’m just splitting it up” when you’re looking at your online shopping cart. Psychologically, those are worlds apart. Financially, they are identical.

The process is frictionless. No underwriting. Instant approval. You go from “just browsing” to “it’s already shipped” in under three minutes like any other payment form. And today you can pay for almost anything using BNPL, from a fridge, a DoorDash order, to even paying rent. (something about that should give us all pause…but I digress.)

Who Provides These Loans?

The biggest players in this industry are generally newbies to the financial services, they are:

• Affirm

• Klarna

• Afterpay

• PayPal Pay Later

These creative fintech companies have embedded their products so seamlessly into e-commerce, you barely notice you’re borrowing money to buy a burrito. Strip away the branding and it is the same concept that has existed for decades. Interest-free financing. Promotional 0% interest rate debt. The same tactics used in auto loans and credit cards, are now living inside your online shopping cart.

Here’s the Quiet Part Out Loud

Wealthy individuals use interest-free or low-cost—financing. All. The. Time. Not because they need to, but because it’s financially savvy and preserves their cash. (cash is king, if you didn’t know) If money is offered to you at 0% interest, the smart move isn’t to reject it. The smart move it’s to use it, strategically.

Let’s say you’re buying a $2,000 laptop. You could pay for it upfront. Or you could:

• Use a BNPL loan

• Invest the $2,000 in a high yield account or a short-term investment

• Pay off the purchase in installments while your cash earns interest and dividends

Same purchase. Different outcome. One drains your liquidity. The other preserves it and potentially earns you more money.

But let’s not pretend this is how most people use BNPL. For many, BNPL becomes a lifestyle not a savvy financial strategy. It is abused and used as a way to say yes faster and think later. It hides the reality of taking on debt behind smaller numbers.

How to Let “Interest-Free” Keep Your Money Free

Like all consumer debt, if you’re going to use BNPL, use it with discipline. Otherwise, don’t use it at all. Here’s a framework and some practical tips that converts BNPL from a liability to a powerful financial product “in” your wallet.

1. Set a Minimum Threshold
Don’t use BNPL for small, impulsive purchases. A simple rule: only use it for purchases over $1,000. Why? Because below that level, the upside is negligible and the temptation to overspend skyrockets

2. Limit The Frequency of Usage
Do not abuse it or make it habitual. Make BNPL the exception, not the rule. Cap your use of BNPL loans to twice a year.

This forces intentionality in your spending. You’ll think harder about when it actually makes sense versus when it’s just convenient.

3. Have the Cash for Every Purchase
This is the most important rule and the one poor people and Gen Z don’t follow. Before you click “Pay in 4,” you should already have the full amount in cash. No exceptions.

Then take it a step further - put that money in a high-yield savings account and automate the installment payments. Now you are not “financing the purchase”, you are “optimizing your liquidity.” (Bonus points for talking like you’re wealthy)

4. Treat Every Purchase Like a Cash Purchase
Simply put, if you wouldn’t buy it today with all cash, don’t finance it over six to eight weeks. BNPL should never be the reason you make purchase. It should only change how you make a purchase.

The Bigger Picture

BNPL isn’t going away. If anything, it’s becoming more embedded into how we transact. If you choose to use these loans, the question is whether if you’ll use it or it’ll use you. Used correctly, BNPL is a great financial product that maintains your liquidity and enhances flexibility. Used incorrectly, BNPL is just another way to spend money you don’t have on things you can’t afford.

Use BNPL and other interest free loans the way the wealthy do: not to keep up, but to stay up.

(In a future post, I’ll go into detail about the systemic risk BNPL debt poses. Stay tuned. 😉)

Disclaimer: This article is intended for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, legal, or tax advice. The views expressed are solely the author’s opinions and are not recommendations to buy, sell, borrow, invest, or take any specific financial action. Financial decisions should be made based on your individual circumstances, risk tolerance, and consultation with a qualified professional. Readers are solely responsible for any actions or decisions they take based on this content. Neither the author nor the platform assumes any liability for losses, damages, or outcomes resulting from the use or application of any information, opinions, or strategies discussed. Use of Buy Now, Pay Later products and other forms of consumer debt carries financial risk, including fees, interest charges, and potential impacts to your credit profile.

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America’s education system is actively setting millions of students up for financial failure.

Every year, nearly 4 million students graduate high school. The Class of 2026 will walk across stages this spring fluent in algebra, basic chemistry, and American History…yet many of them will be unable to explain compound interest, don’t understand credit, and have never been taught how to buy stocks. This is a systemic failure.

We are sending young people into adulthood, unable to financially swim and then acting surprised when they drown. Let’s call it what it is: financial illiteracy in America isn’t a personal flaw. It’s an institutional/societal design flaw with real economic consequences.

The Department of Education should be rebranded to The Department of Negligence.

The System Isn’t Broken. It’s Working Exactly as Designed.

At a time when financial security in retirement is shifting from companies (pensions funds) and government (social security) to self-managed savings, we are sending our youth into one of the most complex financial landscapes in history…

…with nothing but TikTok advice and vibes.

While federal and state policymakers debate curriculum politics, the real crisis is hiding in plain sight.

• Nearly 2 in 3 Americans cannot pass a basic financial literacy test

• U.S. household debt hit $18.8 trillion in Q4 2025

• Young adults are carrying record levels of credit card and student loan debt

Globally, the U.S. is falling behind. On the OECD PISA financial literacy assessment, the U.S. ranked 8th out of 20 countries, with 17% of students scoring at the lowest proficiency level. Even more telling, only ~50% of U.S. teens have bank accounts, compared to over 80% in countries like Australia and New Zealand where financial literacy is embedded in education.

Gen Z, in their words, are completely underprepared to manage money. According to recent surveys from WalletHub and Wells Fargo:

• 25% say they lack confidence in their financial knowledge

• 66% believe savings accounts are the best way to invest

• 27% don’t use a budget at all

• ~20% rate their debt management skills as “poor”

• 46% describe their financial lives as “messy”

If we’re serious about fixing this, we have to be honest about responsibility. Ask yourself, what if financial illiteracy isn’t just a societal failure…but a feature?

Policy makers?
They’ve known about this for decades. The U.S. introduced a National Strategy for Financial Literacy in 2006 and updated it after the 2008 financial crisis. And yet, implementation has been slow, inconsistent, and fragmented.

Yes, progress exists. 31 states now require a standalone personal finance course (up from 17 in 2016). But let’s not celebrate too early. New York, the financial capital of the world, still doesn’t require it. That’s like requiring gym class everywhere except where the Olympics are held.

Financial Service Companies?
For banks, credit card companies, and lenders, less-informed customers are often the most profitable.

Customers with low financial literacy are more likely to carry high-interest debt, miss payments, rack up fees, and stay stuck in cycles of borrowing. A financially savvy customer avoids fees and minimizes interest.

Keeping people bad with money isn’t good for society but it’s not bad for business either.

Parents?
They’re possibly the silent co-signers of this crisis.

• 56% of parents avoid talking to their kids about money

• Yet 70% of kids (ages 11–14) say their parents are their most trusted source for financial advice

Let that sink in. The people kids trust most to teach them about money are often the least prepared or most uncomfortable doing it. Silence doesn’t protect kids from bad financial habits it merely ensures they will experience financial struggle.

There is Some Progress to Report

When I launched my financial literacy nonprofit organization, D.R.E.A.M., in 2009, conversations around financial literacy were not common and mainstream. That has changed.

At the same time, the ecosystem around financial literacy has exploded. Today there are corporate-led programs, bank initiatives, nonprofit campaigns, television programming, podcasts, and social media creators all contributing to the conversation. That sheer volume of information marks a significant shift from the mid-to-late 2000s when financial literacy resources were far more limited.

And the early signs suggest young people are already leaning in:

• 56% of Gen Z Americans (ages 18–25) report holding an investment of some kind

• 50% of Americans under 35 have a retirement account, with a median balance of $18,880

• Gen Z begins investing at an average age of 19, compared to age 25 for Millennials

• Nearly 40% of Black Americans owned stocks in 2022, up from less than 30% in 2016, making them the fastest-growing group of new investors

So What Now?

If we keep treating financial literacy as optional or a nice-to-know, we will keep producing financially fragile adults. Here’s the reality - if schools don’t teach money and parents don’t talk about money at home - kids will learn from the internet, music lyrics, or the financial habits they observe.

So yes, this is a call to action. Firstly, if you weren’t aware, April is National Financial Literacy Month, one of my favorite months of the year. It’s an opportunity for all of us to pause and engage more intentionally with our personal finances.

This April I encourage you to start a conversation about money with someone younger in your life. And most importantly, encourage the young people around you to have conversations with their friends about money. Because knowledge today becomes actionable tomorrow.

Secondly, engage your state’s elected officials and local school boards/district officials. Push for mandated financial literacy courses in high school graduation requirements. Demand implementation not just policy headlines. Financial literacy is a core life skill—as essential as reading, writing, and math. And if we fail to treat it that way, we shouldn’t be surprised when the next generation falls into debt early, chases shortcuts to wealth, and struggles to build a solid financial foundation to start a family.

Teaching young people how money works might be one of the highest ROI investments we can make as a society. In the words of philosopher Ermias Joseph Asghedom (better known as Nipsey Hussle)…

…the marathon continues.

Disclaimer: This article is intended for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, legal, or tax advice. The views expressed are solely the author’s opinions and are not recommendations to buy, sell, borrow, invest, or take any specific financial action. Financial decisions should be made based on your individual circumstances, risk tolerance, and consultation with a qualified professional. Readers are solely responsible for any actions or decisions they take based on this content. Neither the author nor the platform assumes any liability for losses, damages, or outcomes resulting from the use or application of any information, opinions, or strategies discussed.

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Inflation, student debt, and housing costs dominate headlines as the greatest threats to Gen Z’s financial security. But that story is dangerously misleading. The real culprit destroying Gen Z’s finances? Online sports betting. Legalized overnight, engineered to be addictive, and marketed relentlessly to the youngest, most financially vulnerable generation in modern history, online sports betting is sneakily destructive. We know the destruction is underway. The problem? We don’t yet have the data to fully quantify the damage—only the early warning signs. And by the time economists can measure the true cost, an entire generation may have already paid it.

So, how did we get here? In 2018, the Supreme Court struck down a federal ban on sports betting, opening the floodgates for states to legalize it. What followed was an immediate gold rush - apps flooded the market, states rushed to collect tax revenue, and consumers were handed a gamified gambling experience unlike anything that had existed before. As of last year, over 38 states have legalized online sports betting.

The enormous growth of online sports betting has come at the expense of the financial stability and mental health for millions of Americans—especially young adults. It should not be surprising that this cohort has over-indulged; living under pressure in a world shaped by social media’s constant display of wealth, excess, and “overnight success.” The message is everywhere: money should come fast, effortlessly, and abundantly. For many young people, gambling has become a seductive shortcut— a chance to leapfrog the slow, unglamorous effort of saving and investing. According to a 2025 study from Siena Research Institute, 58% of 18 to 22-year-olds in the U.S placed at least one online wager in 2023. The irony is hard to ignore: young adults are spending their money chasing “get rich quick” outcomes instead of participating in the very activities that historically lead to getting rich and building wealth.

Companies have masterfully capitalized on Gen Z’s desire for fast money, turning it into a highly profitable business. The online sports gambling industry generates over $100 billion in annual revenue, led by companies such as DraftKings, PrizePicks and FanDuel. Some of the publicly traded online sports betting companies announced record financial performance in 2025. DraftKings (ticker: DKNG) reported a record $1.513 billion in revenue (a 37% year-over-year increase) and Adjusted EBITDA of $301 million for Q2 2025. Flutter (ticker: FLUT), which owns FanDuel, reported that FanDuel achieved the highest gross revenue margin on record of 16.3% in June 2025. The IPOs of online sports betting companies have minted their founders and executives as billionaires. People have certainly gotten rich from online sports betting, just not Gen Z and young adults.

But why should the rest of us care? Because the cost doesn’t stay personal for long. A gambling epidemic among youth doesn’t just drain bank accounts—it fuels addiction, strains families, and creates ripple effects throughout the entire society. At the same time, we’ve quietly shifted the burden of long-term financial security away from corporations and government and onto individuals. Pensions are gone. Guaranteed retirements are gone. Social safety nets are underfunded. Today’s young adults are expected to fund their own futures through 401(k)s, IRAs, and disciplined investing. When disposable income is funneled into sports betting apps instead of long-term savings, the outcome is predictable: a generation unable to afford retirement. The consequences won’t be theoretical—they’ll show up as social instability, increased reliance on public assistance, and higher taxes for everyone else.

But I don’t believe it’s too late to turn things around. At a minimum, we must dramatically increase financial literacy among young adults. Additionally, there are policy levers that could still slow the financial crisis taking shape among young adults right in front of us:

1. Mandate financial literacy classes in state high school curriculum as a graduation requirement. Additionally, colleges and universities should make a personal finance course a mandatory pre-requisite for graduation.

2. Increase the minimum age for online sports betting to 25 and introduce hard monthly loss caps - set as a percentage of verified monthly income. Automatically block gambling merchants on accounts for users under 25.

3. Regulate the betting activity of users under age 25 - cap number of bets per hour/day, prohibit parlays, reduce bet sizes automatically during losing streaks, and force cooldown periods (2-4 weeks) after rapid losses.

We regulate seatbelts, cigarettes, and firearms because individual harm becomes social cost. Online sport betting is no different. If young adults are expected bear full responsibility for their financial futures, we cannot allow this new vice to strip away that capital faster than it can be earned. The warning signs are already here. The question is whether we act before it’s too late.

Disclaimer: This article is intended for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, legal, or tax advice. The views expressed are solely the author’s opinions and are not recommendations to buy, sell, borrow, invest, or take any specific financial action. Financial decisions should be made based on your individual circumstances, risk tolerance, and consultation with a qualified professional. Readers are solely responsible for any actions or decisions they take based on this content. Neither the author nor the platform assumes any liability for losses, damages, or outcomes resulting from the use or application of any information, opinions, or strategies discussed.

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We live in a time where financial advice is everywhere but trustworthy guidance is rare. Social media is flooded with “experts,” influencers, flashy lifestyles, and courses promising overnight riches. But beneath the noise, many people are asking the same question:

Who can I actually trust for advice about money?

That’s why Hustle & Finance exists.

Hustle & Finance was built on one principle: financial advice without the fraud. No gimmicks. No hype. No get-rich-quick schemes. Just real strategies, grounded insight, and practical education that helps you improve your finances and get on the road to building generational wealth.

From investing to generating passive income to budgeting, and wealth psychology, this platform exists to transform the way you think about and handle money. We’re not here to hype trends, day trading strategies, or sell shortcuts and “get-rich-quick” schemes. Real financial success isn’t built on luck or lottery thinking. Generational wealth is built on tactical risk taking, disciplined execution, smart strategy, and decisions grounded in knowledge.

Who Is This For?

Any and everybody. If you want to move from earning income to building assets, develop a wealth mindset instead of a consumption mindset, and make strategic financial decisions with confidence, then you’re in the right place.

Whether you are just starting your journey or positioning yourself for early retirement, one truth remains: finance is evolving and there is always something to learn.

The Voice Behind the Platform

My name is Femi F., the Founder of Hustle & Finance and a personal finance expert. I am a disciplined student of markets, money habits, and long-term wealth creation. For years, I have studied the frameworks, mindset shifts, and financial systems that separate consumers from builders, and earners from owners. I am not here to sell you a course or a subscription to my trading “ideas”. My motivation and life mission is to teach people about money so that they can live abundantly.

This will be a place where much of what I read, find interesting in the world of personal finance, and (mostly) everything I think on money topics will be available to you. Here, you’ll find long-form, thoughtful analysis on:

• Wealth-building strategies that stand the test of time

• Practical money systems you can apply immediately

• Market trends explained without jargon

• Behavioral patterns that influence financial success

• Clear breakdowns of complex financial topics

This platform will not be a remix of what’s already trending or recycled content. Our aim is to provide informed insight—shaped by disciplined research, real-world experience, and tried and true principles.

What’s Next?

If this resonates, don’t just read — subscribe. Join a growing community committed to financial clarity, ownership, and long-term wealth. Each post is designed to sharpen your thinking and strengthen your financial foundation.

And if you know someone serious about leveling up financially, send this to them. Wealth is built faster when knowledge is shared.

Your next financial chapter starts here.

Let’s build.

Femi F.

Founder of Hustle & Finance