New Study Reveals Americans' Delivery Obsession; Convenience Spending Trends Across Generations

DELRAY BEACH, Fla., Sept. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- A new survey released today by FinanceBuzz, conducted in partnership with Bank of America, finds that 97% of Americans used a convenience service (food delivery, takeout, grocery delivery, etc.) in the last month, and more than half say their spending has increased in the last five years.

The survey of 2,000 U.S. adults reveals huge adoption of takeout, delivery, grocery, and errand services, particularly among Gen Z shoppers. Overall, Americans said they value their time at $87 an hour on average, and most are willing to pay to protect it.

"Some people are paying for the value of the delivery, but many are paying not to think about it at all," said Melinda Sineriz, Managing Editor at FinanceBuzz. "This isn't just frivolous spending; Americans value their time, and they're willing to buy some of it back."

Key findings from the survey include:

• 97% of Americans used at least one convenience service in the last month, and 52% say their convenience spending has increased compared to five years ago.
• Americans value an hour of free time at $87 on average, more than double the $37.62 average hourly wage reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
• 68% have abandoned a delivery order after seeing the total cost with fees, a figure that climbs to 78% among Gen Z and falls to 41% among Baby Boomers.
• The average American will pay $9.49 in food delivery fees before deciding to pick up the order instead. The most common answer was just $5.
• 85% pay for at least one convenience membership, averaging $22 a month, or $264 a year.
• 22% have tipped nothing on a delivery because the meal was already expensive or the fees were already high.

The data also points to a generational divide in how Americans feel about their delivery spending. While most didn't feel guilt, Gen Z was most likely to feel guilty or embarrassed about their convenience spending. Those gaps track with usage: Gen Z reported an average of 4.3 food delivery orders per month, nearly three times the 1.5 reported by Baby Boomer respondents.

Delivery subscriptions appear to be one area where costs get lost. On average, customers say they'll switch to pickup once delivery fees hit $9.49, but carry an average of $264 a year in convenience membership fees.

The full study and findings are available at https://financebuzz.com/convenience-economy.

About the Survey

FinanceBuzz, in partnership with Bank of America, surveyed 2,000 Americans via the online research platform Prolific in August 2026 about their convenience shopping habits, delivery behaviors, and subscriptions, including food, grocery, and errand apps. Dollar-figure averages in the study exclude statistical outliers. A full methodology can be found on the study's webpage.

For all press inquiries or to speak with one of our experts, please contact the FinanceBuzz research team at [email protected].

About FinanceBuzz

FinanceBuzz offers the expert resources and support necessary to navigate the complexities of personal finance. FinanceBuzz empowers consumers to build financial confidence at every life stage via its personal finance website, which covers a wide range of topics, including credit cards, insurance, banking, investing, retirement, and more.

FinanceBuzz, a Launch Potato brand, was founded in 2016, and the company is headquartered in Delray Beach, Florida. For more information, visit FinanceBuzz.com.

About Bank of America

Bank of America is one of the world's leading financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving nearly 70 million clients with approximately 3,500 retail financial centers, approximately 15,000 ATMs (automated teller machines) and award-winning digital banking with approximately 60 million verified digital users. Bank of America is a global leader in wealth management, corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. As the #1 small business lender in the United States (FDIC), Bank of America offers industry leading support to approximately 4 million small business households through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations across the United States, its territories and more than 35 countries and/or jurisdictions. Bank of America Corporation stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

Visit BofA Fast Facts for more information about the company.

Media Contact:
Chris Lewis
650-704-8237
[email protected] 

SOURCE FinanceBuzz