The Top Money Lies Americans Admit Telling — and What They Reveal
Lying about money is fairly common and can come in many forms. Maybe you've slightly exaggerated your salary or bought something you couldn't actually afford to look impressive. Or maybe you've pretended to understand more about investing or crypto than you actually do.
While these little lies might seem innocuous, they can point to a larger issue — they likely have less to do with dishonesty and more to do with a lack of understanding of money and how to best manage it.
Also See: 5 Easy Money Habits To Add to Your Daily Routine
Take Action: 5 Signs You’re Losing Money Every Month — and How To Find the Leaks
In honor of Financial Literacy Month, MoneyLion is publishing new research to help Americans get a better understanding of the biggest money myths and how to address them. We surveyed roughly 1,000 Americans on topics related to salary inflation, budgeting and hiding financial stress.
Key Findings
1 in 3 Americans is likely to inflate their salary to make it sound more impressive.
59% of Americans think their friends are lying about their finances.
41% of Americans have bought something they couldn’t afford — just to impress others.
67% of people say they’ve claimed to be “doing fine” financially when they were really struggling.
55% of Americans believe that people often pretend to understand investing when they really don't.
Many Americans Lie About Their Salary — and Believe Others Do the Same
About one-third of Americans (32%) admit they are "somewhat likely" or "very likely" to round up their salary or frame it as more impressive when someone asks about it. And they believe their peers are doing the same — 59% believe that their friends lie about or inflate their salaries to impress others. The survey also found that younger generations are more likely to inflate their salaries:
16% of people ages 18 to 24 (younger Gen Z) are very likely to exaggerate their salaries
15% of people ages 25 to 44 (older Gen Z and millennials) are very likely to exaggerate their salaries
That's compared to under 11% for all other age groups.
Americans Are Overspending To Keep Up With Friends and Appearances
Financial pressure doesn’t just show up in conversation — it shows up in spending.
We're constantly under pressure to spend money, whether we're scrolling TikTok and being bombarded with ads for things to buy to look cool, or we're out to dinner with well-meaning friends who rack up a huge bill. These everyday situations often put us in a position that tempts us to spend money we don't actually have.
According to the survey:
41% of Americans have bought something or said they could afford something just to keep up with friends or colleagues, even though it didn't fit into their budget.
Nearly half (49%) have agreed to pay more than they could comfortably afford when splitting a group bill because they didn't want to look cheap.
31% admit that they have bought something specifically so it would look good on social media, even though it wasn't a smart financial decision.
Men are more likely than women to overspend to keep up with appearances:
44% of men have bought something or said they could afford something just to keep up with friends or colleagues vs. 38% of women
36% of men have bought something just to look good on social media vs. 26% of women
Money deceit also extends into relationships. One-third (33%) of Americans admit they've presented their finances as better than they actually are when dating or in a relationship.
Most Americans Hide Financial Stress From Others
Admitting financial difficulty isn’t easy, and many Americans avoid it altogether. The survey found that 67% of people have claimed to be “doing fine” financially when they were really struggling, and 34% said they've lied about their financial status a few times.
Millennials are especially likely to struggle silently. Twenty-seven percent of adults ages 35 to 44 say they’ve repeatedly downplayed or hidden financial stress.
Americans Often Pretend To Understand Investing and Money
Behind the money lies could be a lack of financial knowledge.
Nearly 7 in 10 Americans (69%) say they’ve felt pressure to sound more financially knowledgeable than they really are. And they believe others do the same, particularly when it comes to:
Investing in stocks or funds (55%)
Cryptocurrency and digital assets (53%)
Retirement accounts and taxes (37%)
The desire to appear financially savvy can prevent people from asking questions and from actually learning the skills that would help them in the long term.
Why Americans Lie About Money — and How To Stop
Many of these behaviors share a common thread: the desire to appear successful, especially in a culture fueled by comparison.
"Many people strive to attain material goods to give an impression of wealth to others, rather than achieving true wealth," said Seth Cohan, vice president at The Wealth Alliance. "Social media has increased the need for material gain, as we are all exposed to others living lavish lifestyles focused on having the biggest, best and most expensive things."
A lack of financial literacy plays a role as well.
"People do not understand how money works because it is hardly ever taught," said Ali Zane, CEO at Imax Credit Repair Firm. "They do not understand that credit card debt is 22% annually, that living paycheck to paycheck is something you can change, or that managing your money is a skill that can be learned and developed in a weekend."
One effective starting point is understanding where your money actually goes.
"A careful analysis of income versus expenses demonstrates where you might be spending in unnecessary places you never considered," Cohan said. "When expenses are accurately measured against income, better choices can be made."
That clarity often leads to saving — and confidence.
"When you realize that having money and savings available is more valuable than material things, your level of financial freedom improves — and your life improves," Cohan said. "Analyzing cash flow is a key tool to help attain true financial wealth."
5 Tips To Improve Your Finances (So You Don't Have To Lie About Them)
If you’re tired of hiding financial stress or stretching the truth, these steps can help:
Improve your financial literacy. Understanding financial basics like how to build a budget and how to invest is key to getting your money on track. Reading personal finance sites like MoneyLion or listening to relevant podcasts is a good place to start.
Track your cash flow. You can't fix what you don't know. You need to see exactly what you are earning and spending to figure out what's working and what isn't. MoneyLion's budgeting tools can help you easily track your spending, set custom goals and get real-time updates.
Automate what you can. You're more likely to make good decisions when you automate them. Set an automatic contribution from your checking account to your savings account to build up an emergency fund, and set bills to auto-pay so you never miss a payment.
Stop comparing your money to others. As the survey shows, many people are lying about their finances, so you should never try to keep up with other people's projections of "wealth." Instead, focus on living below your means and making financial decisions that make sense for you personally.
Be honest about your finances. Telling your friends that you don't want to split the bill because you only ate an appetizer or admitting that you're financially struggling can be uncomfortable, but it can also be freeing. Be radically honest about your money, and others will likely follow suit.
The more control you gain over your finances, the less pressure you’ll feel to pretend.
Methodology: MoneyLion surveyed 998 Americans ages 18 and older from across the country between March 10 and March 16, 2026, asking 25 questions. These included:
How often do you believe your friends inflate or lie about their actual salary to impress others?
Which of the following financial topics do you think people MOST often pretend to understand, but actually don't? (Select all that apply)
How often do you feel pressure to sound more financially knowledgeable than you really are when talking about money with others?
Have you ever bought something (or said you could afford something) just to keep up with friends/colleagues, even though it didn't really fit your budget?
Have you ever claimed to be "doing fine" financially when you were actually stressed or struggling with money?
When someone asks about your salary or income, how likely are you to round up or frame it in a way that sounds more impressive?
Have you ever downplayed or hidden your debt (credit cards, loans, "buy now, pay later," etc.) when talking to friends or family?
When talking about savings or investments, how likely are you to make it sound like you have more put away than you actually do?
Have you ever lied about why you couldn't attend a social event (e.g., saying you were "busy" instead of "I can't afford it")?
When splitting bills (meals, trips, group gifts), have you ever agreed to pay more than you could comfortably afford to avoid looking "cheap"?
Have you ever bought something specifically so it would look good on social media, even though it wasn't a smart financial decision for you?
When dating or in a relationship, have you ever presented your finances (income, savings, spending) as better than they really are?
MoneyLion used PureSpectrum's survey platform to conduct the poll.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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