Signal Asked what they would do with an extra $200, consumers most often said save it for a vacation

Summary

McKinsey's 2026 survey asked consumers how they would treat themselves if handed an extra 200 dollars. Across every age group, the most frequent answer was to put the money aside for a vacation. Baby boomers chose this option more often than Gen Z respondents did. The survey also found that people favour experiences that leave them feeling connected, relaxed or excited, and these feelings often translate into a wish to splurge. The result reinforces the report's view that experiences, rather than goods, sit at the top of discretionary wish lists. It also hints at generational differences in how that experiential spending is directed.