Financial portrait of young Poles: Focused on savings, development, and lower debt

Young Poles are showing signs of increasing financial maturity, according to new data from the BIG InfoMonitor Debtors Register and the BIK credit database. People aged 18–24 have reduced their total arrears by PLN 172 million compared to a year ago, bringing the total to around PLN 873 million as of February 2025. About 65% of young respondents say they have no outstanding debts, whether credit-related or not.

Research commissioned by BIG InfoMonitor shows that 29% of young people fully met their financial plans last year, more than any other age group (24%). Looking ahead, 18% plan to spend more on education and professional development, compared to just 7% among older generations. Spending on personal development even outranks spending on leisure activities among this group.

When it comes to improving their financial situation, 44% of young people plan to increase savings, 37% aim to cut unnecessary purchases, 28% will look for discounts or promotions, and 17% intend to deepen their financial knowledge, including topics like debt management.

Income growth is also a goal: 36% plan to seek additional income sources, 28% are considering changing jobs, and 19% hope to take on extra projects at work. Only 19% said they do not plan to act on improving their finances, the lowest share among all age groups.

According to Waldemar Rogowski, chief analyst at BIG InfoMonitor, young people are becoming more cautious with borrowing and are focused on managing their money responsibly. While some still hold the view that securing one’s financial future is something to worry about later in life, there is a visible shift toward proactive financial behavior.

Data also show that young Poles are working on paying off existing debts, including obligations to banks, loan companies, service providers, and even friends or family. On average, individuals in this group have PLN 7,312 in unpaid liabilities, a reduction of PLN 743 from the previous year. The share of unreliable young debtors in their age group is 4.5%, the lowest compared to older cohorts. Most unpaid debts are non-credit obligations, such as unpaid utility bills, internet or phone charges, fines, or child support.

Experts point to the role of financial education in this improvement. Rogowski notes that financial topics introduced in primary school are helping young people understand the risks of being unreliable debtors. Małgorzata Bielińska, education director at BIK Group, emphasizes the need for integrated and practical financial education across all age groups, using modern tools like games, online courses, and interactive platforms to prepare people for real-world financial decisions.

Source: BIG InfoMonitor