Seven purchases younger boomers and older Gen Xers are reconsidering

Benjamin Brant argues that wealthy younger boomers and older Gen Xers are not spending less overall but are reassigning money away from assumed, permanent purchases toward flexible, experience‑oriented choices. He lists six clear shifts (and one recurring replacement example) with supporting data:

1. China and formal tableware are fading — sets that once cost thousands now sell for under $50 as inheritors lack space or appetite for 80 fragile dishes. Instead, some retirees buy physical items tied to memory: vinyl is rising. Per the Recording Industry Association of America, US Vinyl Revenue increased 9.3% in 2025 (the 19th consecutive year), surpassing $1 billion with nearly 47 million album sales.

2. Alcohol consumption is falling in retirement. Gallup found 54% of American adults said they drank alcohol in 2025 (down from 62% in 2023 and 58% in 2024). The Wine Market Council reports boomers' share of wine customers fell from 32% in 2023 to 26% in 2025; Gen X held at 26%.

3. RV ownership is declining after a pandemic peak: RV manufacturers shipped a record 600,000 units in 2021, then fell ~18% in 2022 and ~36% in 2023; 2024 shipments recovered to just over 300,000. Industry research finds the median RV is used about 30 days per year, motivating renters over owners for occasional travel.

4. Vacation/second homes: demand slid from a pandemic frenzy; Redfin shows second‑home mortgages were 2.6% of purchase mortgages in 2024 (down from ~5% in 2020). Brant frames the question: do you need ownership to get months of warm weather or beach time?

5. The 'fancy funeral' is being pared back. The National Funeral Directors Association projected cremation would account for about 63% of deaths in 2025 (vs. 31% burial) and possibly >82% by 2045. Median funeral costs: $8,300 with viewing and burial vs $6,304 with viewing and cremation (about a $2,000 difference before cemetery costs).

6. Insurance is being rethought: life insurance policies that 'fulfilled their assignment' may no longer be necessary if mortgages are paid and children are independent. Brant urges modeling survivor outcomes before changes. Retirees also raise deductibles (from $250/$500 toward $1,000–$2,500) to lower premiums, and many affluent households consider self‑insurance for long‑term care (example calculation: $10,000/month × 3 years = $360,000), using home equity rather than expensive indemnity LTC policies.

Counterintuitively, many classic retiree activities persist: cruises had a record year with ~one third of passengers under 40; time share average owner age fell from 53 to 47 and is shifting to point systems; golf participation grew for the eighth consecutive year. Brant's conclusion: this generation shifts from obligation and permanence toward deliberate spending on people, memories, flexibility, and experiences.