A new survey has found that young Romanians are increasingly worried about housing, financial insecurity and the possibility of military conscription, yet many remain optimistic about their future and are willing to move abroad in search of better opportunities.
According to the 2025 “Young Money Matters” report by Cook Communications, 82% of Romanians aged 18 to 35 believe the government should do more to help them buy or rent homes. Only one in ten currently have a mortgage, and just 5% are interested in getting one.
Financial security remains fragile. Nearly six in ten young Romanians have savings that would cover just one month of expenses, and a quarter say they never have money left at the end of the month. “Having enough money to not worry about paying bills” is now their top financial goal, surpassing owning a home.
Despite the economic challenges, three out of four respondents still believe they can achieve their financial ambitions—though optimism has dipped slightly from last year. The war in neighboring Ukraine has added new concerns: 62% of young Romanians fear conscription could be reinstated.
For many, the most promising path to financial stability lies abroad. Seven in ten young Romanians say they would consider emigrating to improve their income or career prospects—most to another EU country (57%) or to the United States (23%).
Financial education also remains a weak point. Most respondents rely on informal channels such as internet searches (42%), parents (41%) or social media (34%) for advice. Only 11% said they learned about money in school, and just 13% invest their savings, fewer than those who gamble.
The housing concerns of young Romanians and their expectation that the government should do more to help come through loud and clear. We hope this year’s survey sparks discussion among policymakers, educators and the financial sector
Joe Cook, founder and managing director of Cook Communications
The study surveyed 1,000 Romanians aged 18–35, alongside participants in Poland and the Czech Republic, to capture how young Central Europeans earn, save and spend their money.
Articolul Young Romanians struggle to save and dream of moving abroad a fost publicat prima dată în Money Buzz! • Știri Economice, Știri Financiare, Știri Business