The digital panel invited young people aged 15–25 to discuss money and everyday finances
The Family everyday life, economics and wellbeing (FamilyEconomics -research project) organised a digital panel for young people to discuss what helps them cope when they don’t have enough money or have none at all. What kinds of things give young people hope?
Our digital panel focusing on young people’s sense of hope was open from 29 September to 10 October 2025. The digital panel is a discussion platform maintained by the Ministry of Justice, which is designed to allow young people to influence societal issues. Its aim is to make young people’s voices heard and to bring their messages forwards, for example, to decision-makers.
A concluding statement approved by the participants was written based on the discussions: As part of the EverydayEconomics -research project at Tampere University, the digital panel explored what helps young people cope when they don’t have enough money or have none at all. The purpose of the discussion was to highlight young people’s thoughts on what offers hope in financially difficult situations.
The discussion provided important perspectives on finances, various suggestions for supporting young people economically, and reflections on what kinds of things create hope. Music, nature and close relationships were described as sources of hope. Alongside these, participants also emphasised that libraries and other publicly funded services offer many opportunities that deserve more visibility and appreciation.
On the other hand, the discussion also addressed frustrations related to the role of money in everyday life. The participants felt it was discouraging that almost everything, especially what is depicted on social media platforms such as TikTok, requires money. Practices regarding free trial periods for streaming services were also criticised: The participants wished these trials were truly fixed term, without automatic continuation.
Thank you to all the participants for your valuable insights and active engagement!
Authors: Elina Kervinen, Ella Sihvonen, Katja Repo, Katri Otonkorpi-Lehtoranta, Mia Tammelin