FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — From paying your mortgage and utility bills to covering the costs of transportation and food, inflation is leaving little to no room for the unexpected.
A new Metro by T-Mobile survey suggests 1 in 4 adults are struggling financially.
“The survey also found that more than half of Americans are saying that managing their money has been stressful,” says Lifestyle expert Vivian Fabiola. “As a matter of fact, 63% said that managing expenses this year is a little bit more challenging than last year. I think we can attribute that to the rising costs across the board.”
Fabiola says that research shows nearly 60 percent of adults say they’ll likely use their tax refund to pay off debt or cover bills rather than indulge.
“Yeah, I think a lot of people use tax season to reset their life, right,” she said. “I think more than ever, everyone is re-evaluating how they’re spending their money, what they’re spending their money on. And more so than ever, people are actually spending their tax refunds on essential items, essential bills. I think, for example, your phone bill goes under that essential items, essential bills.”
Whether you get a refund or end up owing money, Fabiola says this is a good opportunity to re-assess the way you spend your money.
“Even though it’s already the month of March, it’s pretty early on in the year,” she said. “We can still say that we’re going to set ourselves up for a successful 2026, financially speaking.”
For news updates, follow Vanessa Vasconcelos on Facebook, X and Instagram.
Copyright © 2026 KFSN-TV. All Rights Reserved.