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74% of Americans say celebrating life’s big moments interferes with their financial well-being, Achieve survey finds

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Viral loud budgeting trend is reshaping how Americans participate in milestone events for friends and family, Achieve survey finds

SAN MATEO, Calif., July 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Nearly three in four Americans (74%) find that the cost of celebrating major life milestones with their family and close friends affects their financial well-being. Yet most are loath to share their feelings and concerns with loved ones, according to the results of a new survey by Achieve, the leader in digital personal finance.

Achieve’s think tank, the Achieve Center for Consumer Insights, conducted the “Cost of Being There” survey to examine how consumers manage the expense of participating in major life milestone events like weddings, bachelorette/bachelor parties, milestone birthdays, baby showers and graduations. The research found that while most Americans believe participating in these events takes a toll on their financial well-being, less than half (48%) said they are comfortable citing financial reasons for declining to participate in these events.

How ‘being there’ affects financial well-being

Extremely impactful

10 %

Very impactful

20 %

Somewhat impactful

44 %

Not very impactful

17 %

Not impactful at all

9 %

How much does spending money to attend major life milestone events for friends and family affect your financial well-being? n=1,000 Source: Achieve Center for Consumer Insights

When asked how much pressure they feel to spend money attending milestone events for family and friends:

15% feel “extremely” or “very” pressured36% feel somewhat pressured49% said they experience little to no pressure to spend

Compared to older generations, younger Americans, including members of the Gen Z and Millennial generations, were both more likely to say they’re affected financially by participating in milestone events and more willing to share that reason with loved ones. As a result, 67% of Gen Z respondents said they’ve opted out of participating in a milestone event over the past three years because of the cost, compared to 47% of Millennials, 48% of Gen X and 30% of Baby Boomers.

The impact of loud budgeting

“You only have to look at the loud budgeting trend to see that younger Americans are generally more comfortable talking about their financial challenges than older generations,” said Sean Fox, President of Debt Resolution at Achieve. “Millennials came of age during the Great Recession, while their Gen Z peers watched their parents and families struggle through both the 2008 financial crisis and COVID-19 pandemic. So for many, these topics are less taboo because they’ve had a near-constant presence in their lives. Despite the benefits of creating and discussing budgets, the cost of attending oftentimes pricey events can have a lasting impact on finances.”

“Loud budgeting,” a money management technique recently popularized on social media, encourages individuals to be vocal about prioritizing their budgets and commitment to their financial boundaries or goals.

In examining the loud budgeting trend, Achieve found:

Overall, 44% of respondents have tried or currently practice loud budgetingThe trend is more popular among Millennials (48%) than Gen Z and Gen X (45% each) and Baby Boomers (37%).48% of women have loud budgeting experience, compared to 39% of men.Loud budgeting experience was nearly identical among respondents with household incomes of up to $50,000 (43%) and over $50,000 (44%).

Among respondents who currently practice or have tried loud budgeting, 67% of respondents said the people around them are generally supportive of their financial goals and 59% said others are willing to do less-expensive activities in order to spend time together. However, 29% of loud budgeters said they’ve been criticized or ridiculed for the practice and 10% don’t believe people in their lives respect the boundaries they set about spending. In addition, far fewer respondents said that loud budgeting has led to improvements in their physical health (35%) or love lives (24%).

Is loud budgeting effective?

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

Dating and romantic relationships have improved

24 %

54 %

22 %

I’ve been criticized or ridiculed about my loud budgeting habits

29 %

26 %

45 %

Loud budgeting has led to disagreements with friends and family or loss of friendships

31 %

24 %

45 %

I get invited to fewer activities with friends and family

34 %

35 %

31 %

My physical health has improved

35 %

43 %

22 %

I spend more time with friends and family

43 %

35 %

22 %

My mental health has improved

46 %

39 %

15 %

Loud budgeting has helped me reprioritize certain friendships and personal relationships

51 %

36 %

13 %

I do a better job saving money

55 %

31 %

14 %

People in my life are willing to do less expensive activities in order to spend time together

59 %

31 %

10 %

People in my life respect the boundaries I set about spending

63 %

27 %

10 %

Even with loud budgeting, sticking to financial goals is challenging

64 %

23 %

13 %

Loud budgeting makes it easier to stick to financial goals and make ends meet

64 %

27 %

9 %

People in my life are supportive of my financial goals

67 %

25 %

8 %

How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements about loud budgeting? n=437 Source: Achieve Center for Consumer Insights

How much is enough to spend on milestone moments?

So just how much are Americans willing to spend to attend milestone events, and are they ok taking on debt to pay for it? Achieve found that willingness to spend money or incur debt to take part in milestone events frequently comes down to relationships. Nearly half of Americans were more likely to spend over $500 on milestone events for their spouse/significant other, their dependent children and their adult children, including approximately 30% of survey respondents who said they’re willing to spend over $1,000 on the milestones of their immediate family members.

How much will we spend?

Total

$0

Up to
$500

$501 to
$1,000

$1,001 to
$5,000

Over
$5,000

Work colleagues

32 %

59 %

6 %

1 %

2 %

Other adult friends outside of your work and family

22 %

66 %

9 %

1 %

2 %

Members of your extended family

17 %

66 %

11 %

3 %

2 %

Your spouse or significant other’s close friends

25 %

57 %

11 %

4 %

3 %

Your best friend

13 %

65 %

14 %

5 %

3 %

Your spouse or significant other’s family members

16 %

58 %

15 %

8 %

3 %

Your siblings

13 %

59 %

16 %

8 %

5 %

Your parents

14 %

46 %

16 %

14 %

11 %

Your adult children

16 %

40 %

17 %

14 %

13 %

Your dependent children

15 %

39 %

17 %

14 %

15 %

Your spouse or significant other

10 %

40 %

19 %

13 %

17 %

How much money would you be willing to spend to participate in a major life milestone for the following people in your life? n=1,000 Source: Achieve Center for Consumer Insights

Achieve found that 79% of Americans typically need more than a month to save money or make other financial arrangements to attend milestone events, including 18% who said it typically takes over six months to prepare financially.

“Saving money ahead of time, rather than using credit cards and paying them off later, is a helpful strategy to mitigate the financial strain of attending milestone events because it can reduce or eliminate additional interest charges that can make an expensive event even more costly,” said Fox.

In addition to being willing to spend the largest amounts of money on the milestone events of their significant others and both young and adult children, respondents also said they were more willing to take on debt to cover these expenses. Conversely, respondents said they’re less interested in spending money on events for coworkers and the friends of their spouse or significant other.

Taking on debt to attend milestone events

0 %

1% to
25%

26% to
50%

51% to
75%

76% to
100%

Work colleagues

52 %

33 %

8 %

4 %

2 %

Other adult friends outside of your work and family

51 %

33 %

9 %

5 %

2 %

Members of your extended family

41 %

36 %

15 %

5 %

3 %

Your best friend

36 %

39 %

15 %

7 %

4 %

Your spouse or significant other’s family members

36 %

35 %

19 %

5 %

5 %

Your spouse or significant other’s close friends

44 %

30 %

15 %

6 %

5 %

Your siblings

31 %

37 %

19 %

8 %

5 %

Your parents

26 %

30 %

20 %

11 %

13 %

Your adult children

26 %

24 %

22 %

14 %

14 %

Your spouse or significant other

23 %

27 %

22 %

13 %

15 %

Your dependent children

21 %

23 %

24 %

14 %

18 %

How much of the amount that you would spend on milestone events would you be willing to take on as debt that takes more than one month to pay off? n=1,000 Source: Achieve Center for Consumer Insights

Methodology

The data and findings presented are based on an Achieve survey conducted in April 2024 consisting of 1,000 U.S. consumers ages 18 and older, and is representative of Census Bureau benchmarks of the U.S. population for age, gender, race and ethnicity.

About the Achieve Center for Consumer Insights

The Achieve Center for Consumer Insights is a think tank that leverages Achieve’s team of digital personal finance experts to provide a view into the state of consumer finances. In addition to sharing insights gleaned from Achieve’s proprietary data and analytics, the Achieve Center for Consumer Insights publishes in-depth research, bespoke data and thoughtful commentary in support of Achieve’s mission of helping everyday people get on the path to a better financial future.

About Achieve

Achieve, THE digital personal finance company, helps everyday people get on, and stay on, the path to a better financial future. Achieve pairs proprietary data and analytics with personalized support to offer personal loans, home equity loans, debt resolution and debt consolidation, along with financial tips and education and free mobile apps, Achieve MoLO (Money Left Over) and Achieve GOOD™ (Get Out Of Debt). Achieve has 2,500 dedicated teammates across the country with hubs in Arizona, California, Florida and Texas. Achieve is frequently recognized as a Best Place to Work.

Achieve refers to the global organization and may denote one or more affiliates of Achieve Company, including Achieve.com (NMLS ID #138464); Achieve Home Loans, Equal Housing Lender (NMLS ID #1810501); Achieve Personal Loans (NMLS ID #227977); Achieve Resolution (NMLS ID # 1248929) and Freedom Financial Asset Management (CRD #170229).

Contacts

Erica Bigley
Vice President
Corporate Communications
ebigley@achieve.com 415-710-9006

Austin Kilgore
Director
Corporate Communications
akilgore@achieve.com 214-908-5097

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SOURCE Achieve

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Cellid Announces the Release of “Cellid Precision Fit Lenses” for Next Generation AR Glasses with Diopter Correction

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TOKYO, April 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Cellid Inc., a leading developer of AR display technology and spatial recognition engines, today announced the launch of “Cellid Precision Fit Lenses,” a new lens that meets the need for diopter correction functionality as the AR glasses market grows. These innovative lenses seamlessly integrate diopter correction with advanced light field control1, enhancing visual clarity and overall usability. By significantly improving image quality and comfort, Cellid Precision Fit Lenses mark a major step forward in making AR glasses more accessible and practical for everyday use.

It is estimated that more than half of the world’s population wear glasses2, and the ability to correct vision when using AR glasses is a key factor in their widespread adoption. Leveraging its proprietary optical simulation and production technologies, Cellid developed AR glasses lenses (waveguide method) that are as thin and light as ordinary glasses lenses while providing clear images. In response to customer requests and potential needs, Cellid has now engineered “Cellid Precision Fit Lenses” with a vision correction function that responds to customer requests and potential needs.

Key features of Cellid Precision Fit Lenses

Diopter correction function: Diopter adjustment allows you to see objects in the real world clearly for a more comfortable and immersive AR experience.Light field control function: Optimizes image clarity by dynamically adjusting the optical distance of AR images across usage scenariosEase of mounting on AR glasses: Particularly when paired with Cellid’s full-lamination AR glasses lenses, these lenses can be easily fitted to AR glasses at conventional optical shops.

The Light Field Control function allows the user to fine-tune the viewing distance of the AR image by selecting the appropriate lens to be worn. For example, in a worksite environment, if users need to perform close-range work while referring to AR image manuals or work videos, they can wear Cellid Precision Fit Lenses optimized for their specific working distance, ensuring that AR visuals align seamlessly with their real-world tasks. This customization enhances clarity, precision, and overall comfort, providing a comfortable AR-assisted work experience.

Technical issues in development and future development

The main components of AR glasses—the lens (waveguide) and the diopter correction lens—have a structural contradiction, as the former is flat while the latter is curved. Additionally, several challenges must be addressed to make diopter correction lenses suitable for AR glasses practical, such as the increased edge thickness when conventional spherical lenses are designed to meet required strength standards.

Cellid has developed its proprietary SCL technology (Small base Curved Lens technology) to address these issues, leading to the commercialization of Cellid Precision Fit Lenses. The company continues to refine its design and manufacturing processes and plans to begin providing samples of an improved, thinner model in late April this year.

Comments from Satoshi Shiraga, CEO, Cellid

The new “Cellid Precision Fit Lenses” will significantly enhance the practicality of AR glasses, making immersive AR experiences more accessible for everyday use. We believe that by enabling a wide range of people to use AR glasses on a daily basis, their use will accelerate in diverse fields, regardless of industry, including manufacturing, education, retail, and entertainment. We will continue to contribute to the expansion of the AR market by leveraging our strengths in AR glasses design and manufacturing technologies centered on WaveGuide, as well as software technologies such as spatial recognition, while working with partners with whom we can grow together.”

About Cellid

Cellid specializes in the development of advanced AR glass display modules, focusing on waveguides and spatial recognition engines for next-generation devices. Leveraging unique optical simulation and proprietary production technologies, Cellid has developed display modules as thin and lightweight as standard eyeglass lenses, delivering clear images and one of the world’s largest fields of view for waveguides. Additionally, Cellid offers industry-specific solutions powered by spatial recognition technologies such as Cellid SLAM. By integrating cutting-edge AR display hardware with real-world spatial recognition software, Cellid is driving the “Blending of Physical and Digital World,” making exceptional information tools more accessible, practical, and convenient for users worldwide.

1 Light Field Control Function: A function that adjusts the focus distance of the AR image plane by selecting and attaching a lens to the AR glasses that matches the desired distance, and matches it with the display distance, etc., using 3D parallax.

EyeWear Industry Statistics And Facts 2025, Overnight Glasses, February 18, 2025

 

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SOURCE Cellid, Inc.

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Raythink Elevates Grid Stability with AI-Powered Thermal Imaging Suite at MEE 2025

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YANTAI, China, April 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ – Raythink Technology Co., Ltd. (“Raythink”), an innovator in the thermal imaging industry, is commanding attention at Middle East Energy 2025 (Booth C29, Hall 4) with its integrated thermal solutions spanning power generation to consumption.

As everyone knows, the wide application and continuous development of electric power is an important driving force for the progress of modern society, which directly affects our daily life and industrial production. Therefore, it is essential to ensure normal operation and efficient maintenance of the electric power system. Raythink, a wholly owned subsidiary of Raytron, has been deeply engaged in the electric power industry for many years and takes the responsibility to discover problems timely and accurately to avoid losses and accidents caused by power failures.

At MIDDLE EAST ENERGY 2025, Raythink demonstrated a full-scenario infrared thermal solution from power generation, transmission, substation to electricity consumption. Raythink’s wireless thermal camera for smart devices IX2 is thin and weighs only 130g. It can transmit images at a distance of up to 8 meters, featuring clear images and accurate temperature measurement. It attracted a lot of visitors due to its compact appearance. The RT400 series is equipped with the latest temperature measurement algorithm of Raythink, demonstrating the strong competitiveness. Famous industrial handheld temperature measurement products of Raythink, such as CX200Pro+, RM620, have also been presented. These products have different resolutions for different temperature measurement scenarios in the electric power industry. Online temperature measurement products with features such as fixed focus, zooming, and ultra-high temperature can be used together with handheld thermal cameras to provide comprehensive temperature measurement solutions for the electric power industry. They can achieve all-round joint temperature measurement inspection covering multiple scenarios and dimensions and guarantee production safety.

This time, Raythink has presented a series of innovative thermal camera products that provide comprehensive temperature measurement solutions for various fields and help the industry achieve safe production. Raythink hopes to play a leading role in the future as it always does and make greater contributions to the development of the electric power industry and the progress of society.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/raythink-elevates-grid-stability-with-ai-powered-thermal-imaging-suite-at-mee-2025-302421532.html

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COPPER CHINA 2025 Returns to Shanghai: A Global Showcase of Copper Innovation and Industrial Synergy

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SHANGHAI, April 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — As the global demand for copper surges across booming sectors like new energy, 5G communications, and electric vehicles, the material’s exceptional electrical and thermal conductivity, along with its superior workability, continues to unlock new possibilities in high-end manufacturing, electronics, and sustainable technologies. Against this backdrop, COPPER CHINA 2025 is set to return in full force from July 9–11, 2025 at Shanghai New International Expo Center.

Hosted as part of the Shanghai International Industrial Materials Exhibition, this year’s edition will feature a comprehensive showcase spanning the entire copper value chain. With cutting-edge technologies, premium products, and deep industry insights all under one roof, COPPER CHINA 2025 offers an all-in-one platform for business matchmaking, technical exchange, and market trend analysis.

A Synergistic Showcase: Copper + Aluminium + Magnesium

This year’s exhibition forms part of a powerful materials mega-event, held alongside the ALUMINIUM CHINA and the Asia Automotive Lightweight Exhibition—with a new magnesium materials zone joining for the first time. This strategic cross-material synergy will allow attendees to explore the distinct advantages and evolving applications of copper, aluminium, and magnesium in one integrated showcase.

Leading Industry Players, Cutting-Edge Solutions

Dozens of renowned domestic and international copper processing enterprises will converge at COPPER CHINA 2025, including Jintian Copper, GD Copper, Libo Industrial, Jinchuan Group, Xingye Shengtai, Chinalco Luoyang Copper Processing, Kaian New Materials, Five-Star Copper, Xinyue New Materials, and many more. Exhibits will cover a wide spectrum—from next-gen copper-based materials and semi-finished products to processing equipment and auxiliary technologies—serving a range of sectors including EVs, energy storage, electronics, HVAC, cabling, machinery, and transportation.

Forum Spotlight: Unlocking Copper’s Value in Emerging Industries

A series of high-level forums and technical seminars will run concurrently with the exhibition, headlined by the Copper-based New Materials Innovative Application Forum. Industry experts will delve into forward-looking topics including copper’s vital role in renewable energy, the EV revolution, and nanotechnology innovation. Key sessions will also explore copper’s recyclability within the circular economy, along with its novel applications in smart cities, 5G networks, advanced lightweighting, power transmission, healthcare, and green buildings.

Innovation in Focus: The Future of Copper Applications

Another highlight of this year’s event is the Nonferrous Metals Innovation Display Zone, where copper will shine as a driving force of materials science. Breakthrough exhibits include:

High-conductivity copper for robotics, tactile sensors, and electric motorsFlexible copper films for wearable devices and e-skin applicationsCopper alloys enhancing millimeter-wave signal transmissionCopper cables powering wind, solar, and hydrogen energy infrastructureCopper-oxide superconductors hinting at a future of long-distance, high-efficiency power transmission

Visitors will have the opportunity to experience firsthand how copper is accelerating transitions in energy, digital technology, and life sciences.

Business Matchmaking: Targeted Connections, Real Opportunities

To meet buyers’ sourcing needs, COPPER CHINA 2025 will offer a dedicated business matchmaking service. Prior to the event, organizers will gather procurement requirements from copper buyers and match them on-site with suitable suppliers. These one-on-one, curated meetings streamline deal-making, facilitate in-depth discussions, and maximize cooperation potential—turning every encounter into a win-win opportunity.

Backed by the global network of RX, COPPER CHINA 2025 will welcome international associations, delegations, and buyers, creating opportunities for global collaboration. With a focus on sharing the latest global trends and driving international business growth, the event facilitates industry innovation and sustainability.

Free visitor registration is in full swing now!   Secure your complimentary badge by registering through the official website https://reed.infosalons.com.cn/reg/CUC25/registeren/login before July 1, 2025.

We warmly invite all professionals across the copper value chain to join us in Shanghai this July—connect with industry leaders, discover the latest technologies, and co-create a brighter future for copper and the industries it empowers.

Together, let’s energize the high-quality, sustainable future of the copper industry.

Please visit our official website at https://www.copperexpo.com.cn/en-gb.html or LinkedIn @Copper China.

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