Millennials, who weathered the 2008 financial crash as young adults, are now stepping into mentorship mode on TikTok, offering Gen Z practical survival tips to navigate an increasingly shaky economic landscape. Fueled by current inflation, job market uncertainties, and geopolitical instability, creators like Itzett Romero and @yaptrapped are turning their recession scars into wisdom by sharing no-nonsense, community-minded hacks—everything from sharing Costco hauls with neighbors to prioritizing emergency funds. Their message? Don’t panic—prepare. Because as Romero puts it, “We don’t panic during recessions, we prepare for them.”

Key Takeaways:

• Millennials are using TikTok to share recession survival strategies with Gen Z, drawing on their 2008 Great Recession experience.
• Popular tips include:
  • Sharing subscriptions and bulk groceries with friends and neighbors.
  • Buying essentials in bulk early to avoid panic-buying surges.
  • Building an emergency fund with 3–6 months of living expenses.
• Content creator Itzett Romero encouraged her 70,000 followers to “make alliances” as a way to share costs and reduce financial strain.
• TikTok creator @yaptrapped added that making friends helps stretch resources: “We survived a long time like that.”
• Rach to Riches, a well-known financial educator on TikTok, emphasized the importance of saving for emergencies.
• These tips blend financial literacy with community resilience, a generational pivot from individualism to mutual aid.
• The movement reflects growing anxiety about another significant recession—despite mixed economic signals and periodic market upticks.

Final Thoughts:
While TikTok isn’t your traditional financial advice outlet, many of these ideas—emergency savings, bulk buying, and leveraging community—align with recommendations from financial experts. According to a recent CNBC report, emergency funds remain the “cornerstone of financial stability” no matter your generation.
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