It turns out that friendship isn’t just about love, loyalty, and knowing your friend’s order at Chick-fil-A. According to a new survey from Ally Bank, keeping those bonds strong also costs an average of $250 a month. Yes, your bestie’s birthday dinner, that rooftop happy hour, and the spontaneous “let’s do brunch” all come with a price tag.

The Friendship Tab survey was released before International Friendship Day on August 3, 2025. The survey found that nearly half of millennials and Gen Z have skipped major social events because of cost. Only 18% of us even bother to budget for our social lives, which means most of us are winging it until the next overdraft text from our bank.

Still, 69% say seeing friends weekly is non-negotiable. From birthday trips to bottomless mimosas, the pressure to keep up is real. 

“FOMO is real and can lead to overspending that harms our financial well-being,” said Jack Howard, Head of Money Wellness at Ally. “Be open with your friends if you can’t swing that brunch or birthday trip. You might be surprised to learn they’re in the same boat.”

On average, men spend more than women on friendship ($1,775 over six months compared to $1,250). But women are feeling the pinch harder. Nearly one in three say their social spending makes it difficult to build savings, and a quarter say it even makes paying off credit card bills tough. That $60 birthday brunch with the personalized menus? It adds up quickly.

Lindsay Sacknoff, Head of Consumer Banking at Ally, thinks the key is planning ahead. 

“I absolutely believe you can have both – meaningful friendships and healthy finances – it just takes a little planning,” Sacknoff said. She suggests creating a “friendship fund” so you don’t have to panic when the group chat decides on matching pajamas for a bachelorette weekend.

The study also found that almost a quarter of young adults fear missing out on friendships because of money, and 20% said financial differences have even led to a falling out. That’s right: Your friend’s not responding to texts might not be about vibes; it might be about Zelle requests.

But it’s not all bleak. About 23% of millennials and Gen Z are embracing “no-spend hangouts,” whether that’s park picnics, game nights, or just walking around the mall while pretending not to shop. Because sometimes, the best memories don’t need a receipt.

Bottom line: friendships are priceless, but apparently, they’re also $250 a month. So next time your wallet cries at the thought of another birthday dinner, remember, you’re not alone. And your real friends will love you just as much at a free museum day as they will at the latest $45 cocktail spot.

Cover photo: A New Study Says There’s a Cost to Friendship, It’ll Run You $250 Every Month/Photo credit: MVEMNT