Memories over materialism: Gen Z's experiential spending goes beyond mall visits

Gen Z is shifting discretionary spending from shopping to immersive, memory-driven experiences, including concerts, travel, art exhibitions, workshops and adventure activities. Reports from BookMyShow-EY-Parthenon and CBRE show a strong preference for experiences, with many spontaneous purchases and rising Asia-Pacific spending. Young consumers balance budgets through savings, rules and buy-now-pay-later options, while advisors warn against debt and urge planned saving for high-ticket experiences.