31% of Americans Skip Friend Time From Fatigue as 38% Cite Cost Barriers
Updated
Updated · CNBC · Aug 7
31% of Americans Skip Friend Time From Fatigue as 38% Cite Cost Barriers
1 articles · Updated · CNBC · Aug 7
Summary
Nearly 31% of people who want more time with friends say they are too busy or tired to reach out, and 19% say work gets in the way, according to the American Friendship Project.
Another 38% say they lack enough money to spend time with friends, a pressure reinforced by consumer prices rising 25% between January 2020 and November 2025.
Among 603 Gen Z respondents in a Harris Poll, 60% preferred seeing friends in person and 71% felt they were missing experiences older generations had, yet 68% said going out was not worth the cost.
Experts said the barriers can hurt wellbeing and become self-reinforcing habits, but suggested scheduling friend time, using phone calls when needed and choosing low-cost activities such as library events or free classes.