The pandemic – and the accompanying recession – put over 20.5 million Americans out of work. Faced with a confusing public welfare system, the hardship of unemployment, and a desire to keep their personal finances private, laid-off workers are turning to online communities for anonymized support.

To make managing their money easier for Americans, the Dave app links with existing bank accounts and aims to keep people in the black by notifying them when they’re about to go into overdraft. It also breaks down anticipated ingoings and outgoings, giving users an easy way to budget.

Feelings of shame around debt and a lack of engagement from traditional institutions have long hindered financial discussions among women. Gen Y ‘finfluencers’ are changing this status quo, using their social media savvy and relatability to improve their followers’ relationships with money.

The health crisis caused by COVID-19 is steadily making way for an economic crisis as businesses seek support in restarting operations and individuals face up to job insecurity. Canvas8 spoke to 17 people in the UK and US to find out how their spending habits have been impacted by the pandemic.