More than 60% of Americans plan to achieve life goals now more than ever

A vacation, a car, a wedding – oh my! A new survey analyzed what goals are on the horizon for Americans this year.

According to a poll of 2,000 nationally representative Americans, 62% have more life goals they’re hoping to accomplish this year than ever before.

Traveling tops the list of Americans’ life goals this year. In fact, they’re more interested in taking a vacation (domestically (44%) or abroad (39%)) than buying a home (35%) or having a baby (26%).

Of those polled planning to travel in 2022 (just over 1,100 respondents), the most popular trips include a group trip with friends and family (64%), a road trip (50%) and a bucket-list vacation to a destination they’ve never been to (48%).

For those who aren’t planning to travel this year, 54% expect to spend more than usual on their next vacation to make up for lost travel time during the pandemic.

Conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Affirm, the survey found that beyond travel, other events on the horizon for Americans included buying a car (38%), attending a concert or festival (37%), furnishing a home/apartment and attending a wedding (both at 34%).

The 2022 wedding boom is evident, with the average American expecting to be invited to 4 weddings, and nearly a third (28%) planning a wedding of their own.

Nearly two in five (39%) will attend a destination wedding while 35% will attend a “sequel wedding” (referring to a second celebration planned by a couple following their first pandemic wedding).

“With bucket-list vacations, home upgrades and weddings topping the lists of many Americans’ life goals this year, we’re encouraged to see that nearly two-thirds of Americans polled plan to use a buy now, pay over time solution in 2022. In fact, almost 80% of those using pay-over-time options say these solutions will make it easier to achieve their goals by keeping them on budget,” said Silvija Martincevic, Chief Commercial Officer at Affirm.

The survey revealed that the financial pressures of the wedding boom coupled with new trends like sequel weddings are evident, with 63% of those polled who’ve been invited to a wedding this year feeling financially stressed – and for good reason.

Americans polled who’ve attended a wedding in the past estimate the attendance cost to be nearly $3,000 (at an average of $2,877) and if they’re in the wedding party – tack on a few extra hundred dollars for an average of $3,260.

Given the high costs of attending a couple’s big day, more than a third of Americans have had to say “no” to giving a wedding gift (37%), being in a wedding party (36%) and even attending one (28%).

“Americans are feeling the financial pressures of attending a record number of weddings this year, with costs reaching up to $3,000 each. Nearly a third of respondents are turning to pay-over-time solutions to spread out the costs to make attending a wedding more manageable,” said Silvija Martincevic, Chief Commercial Officer at Affirm.

TOP ACCOMPLISHMENTS AMERICANS WOULD LIKE TO ACHIEVE IN 2022

• Take a domestic vacation in the U.S. – 44%
• Take a vacation abroad – 39%
• Purchase a car – 38%
• Attend a concert or festival – 37%
• Attend a sporting event – 36%
• Buy a new summer wardrobe – 35%
• Buy a home – 35%
• Attend a wedding – 34%
• Furnish a home/apartment – 34%
• Move to a new city/state – 31%
• Plan a wedding – 28%
• Move in with a significant other/partner – 28%
• Get pregnant / Have a child – 26%
• Get engaged – 26%