While nobody really wants to tap into their emergency savings, most Americans couldn’t even afford to do so if they had to.
A stunning new Bankrate survey of 1,030 individuals finds that more than half of American adults (56%) lack sufficient savings to shoulder an unexpected $1,000 expense. Of that number, 21% said they would go into debt by financing the spending with a credit card, while 16% would steeply cut back on other spending to bridge the gap. Another 10% would borrow from family and friends, 4% would take out a personal loan, and 5% said they would do “something else.”
Bankrate senior economic analyst Mark Hamrick tells Fortune that this survey is “disappointing because it is an indication that so many Americans are living paycheck to paycheck.” He said this is sadly consistent with earlier Bankrate research that found individuals’ two major financial regrets are the failure to save for emergencies and the failure to save for retirement.
Without requisite savings, 35% of respondents said they’d borrow the money, either from friends and family, a personal loan, or putting it on a credit card. The findings show an unsurprising generational gap, with about three out of five baby boomers saying they’d pay an emergency expense from their savings, while fewer than one-third of Gen Zers would do the same.
“It is understandable, to some degree, that those who are more established in their lives and personal finances might have that capability,” Hamrick says. “It also might reflect that more senior individuals have had sufficient experience with their finances that they understand that savings needs to be a priority.”
The reason most respondents cited for their lack of parachute? Inflation—followed close behind by rising interest rates and a recent change in employment status—is dissuading them from putting money aside. “Inflation’s once-in-a-generation surge has left its mark on American savings habits,” Hamrick wrote in the report. “There is a glimmer of hope, however; 19% of Americans cite rising interest rates as the reason they’ve saved more.”
People tend to save more when they expect a prolonged economic downturn. That’s “the ‘precautionary’ motive for saving,” economist Guillaume Vandenbroucke wrote for the St. Louis Fed in 2021. “If the downturn is not expected to last, people are likely to use their savings to maintain their consumption; that is, they will keep paying their rent, mortgage, and utility bills.”
But despite the larger pressures, they’re not satisfied with their situation; 57% of respondents said the current state of their savings is stressing them out. Nearly one in four (22%) of U.S. adults have no emergency savings at all, Bankrate found—the second-lowest percentage in 13 years of polling. That’s especially bad news given that most Americans would need at least six months of emergency savings to feel comfortable day-to-day.
Even in economically uncertain times, paying down debt quickly—and contributing to emergency funds—must be a top priority, Bankrate advises, lest a loss of income throw a wrench in your plans. And it’s possible to multitask; just over a third of the study’s respondents said they’re currently prioritizing paying down debt and saving money in equal measure.
“For those wisely focused on managing and building their emergency savings, this is an opportune time to benefit from the increase in interest rates,” Hamrick wrote. “Emergency savings, by definition, need to be liquid or easily accessible. A high-yield savings account dedicated to this purpose amounts to a self-insurance policy guarding against unplanned expenses.”
The takeaway, Hamrick adds to Fortune, is that people at all life stages—and at all incomes—recognize the importance of avoiding “the pitfalls of insufficient savings.”
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FAQs
A stunning new Bankrate survey of 1,030 individuals finds that more than half of American adults (56%) lack sufficient savings to shoulder an unexpected $1,000 expense.
How many Americans can't afford a $1000 emergency? ›
Bankrate's latest survey results found 56% of U.S. adults lack the emergency funds to handle a $1,000 unexpected expense and one-third (35%) said they would have to borrow the money somehow to pay for it.
Does the average American have $1000 in savings? ›
Key Takeaways. More than one in four Americans (28%) have savings below $1,000. This is the case for 32% of Gen Zers, followed by Millennials at 31%, Gen X at 27% and Baby Boomers at 20%.
Do the majority of Americans save or have an adequate emergency fund? ›
Saving money is an essential part of smart financial management, but few people are really good at it. And according to Federal Reserve data, most Americans don't have nearly enough money saved up.
What percent of US adults do not have an emergency savings? ›
As of May 2023, more than 1 in 5 Americans have no emergency savings. Nearly one in three (30 percent) people in 2023 had some emergency savings, but not enough to cover three months of expenses. This is up from 27 percent of people in 2022. Note: Not all percentages total 100 due to rounding.
Is $1,000 enough for emergency fund? ›
Starter emergency fund: If you have consumer debt, you need a starter emergency fund of $1,000. This might not seem like a lot, but it's just a temporary buffer while you pay off that debt. Fully funded emergency fund: Once that debt's gone, you need a fully funded emergency fund of 3–6 months of expenses.
How many Americans struggle to pay bills? ›
According to the 2024 Financial Literacy Survey by GOBankingRates, 13% of Americans do not currently bring in enough money to cover their bills, and 46% barely bring in enough to cover their bills.
How many Americans are broke? ›
In fact, nearly half (48.6%) of Americans consider themselves “broke,” our report found. About two-thirds of Americans (66.2%) also report feeling they are “living paycheck to paycheck.”
What percentage of Americans have zero saved? ›
As many as 28% of Americans have nothing saved for their retirement, 39% aren't contributing to a retirement fund and another 30% don't think they'll ever be able to retire. That's according to a new GoBankingRates survey.
How much does the average American adult have in savings? ›
In terms of savings accounts specifically, you'll likely find different estimates from different sources. The average American has $65,100 in savings — excluding retirement assets — according to Northwestern Mutual's 2023 Planning & Progress Study. That's a 5% increase over the $62,000 reported in 2022.
But only 44% of Americans are prepared for a $1,000 emergency expense, according to a survey from financial analysis site Bankrate. While a percentage point higher than last year, most people still say they would be derailed by such a crisis.
How much does the average 30 year old have in their bank account? ›
Average savings by age
| Age | Median bank account balance | Mean bank account balance |
|---|
| <35 | $5,400 | $20,540 |
| 35-44 | $7,500 | $41,540 |
| 45-54 | $8,700 | $71,130 |
| 55-64 | $8,000 | $72,520 |
2 more rowsFeb 29, 2024
The above chart shows that U.S. residents 35 and under have an average of $30,170 in retirement savings; those 35 to 44 have an average $131,950; those 45 to 54 have an average $254,720; those 55 to 64 have an average $408,420; those 65 to 74 have an average $426,070; and those over 70 have an average $357,920.
How many Americans don't have $1000 in savings? ›
Fewer than half of Americans, 44%, say they can afford to pay a $1,000 emergency expense from their savings, according to Bankrate's survey of more than 1,000 respondents conducted in December. That is up from 43% in 2023, yet level when compared to 2022.
Do most people have no savings? ›
Unsurprisingly, people's attitude toward savings differs vastly depending on their age and financial situation. However, research by the FCA in 2022 suggests that around 30% of people in the UK have no savings at all.
How many Americans can't afford a $500 emergency? ›
63% of workers unable to pay a $500 emergency expense, survey finds. How employers may help change that. Workers are reporting financial stress amid higher prices due to inflation and more expensive debt due to rising rates.
How many Americans can't handle a $500 emergency? ›
Roughly 2 in 3 Americans Can't Cover a $500 Emergency.
What is the average amount of emergency funds? ›
Generally, your emergency fund should have somewhere between 3 and 6 months of living expenses. That doesn't mean 3 to 6 months of your salary, but how much it would cost you to get by for that length of time.
Can you survive with $1,000 dollars? ›
But it is possible to live well even on a small amount of money. Surviving on $1,000 a month requires careful budgeting, prioritizing essential expenses, and finding ways to save money. Cutting down on housing costs by sharing living spaces or finding affordable options is crucial.
What percentage of Americans are debt free? ›
Around 23% of Americans are debt free, according to the most recent data available from the Federal Reserve. That figure factors in every type of debt, from credit card balances and student loans to mortgages, car loans and more. The exact definition of debt free can vary, though, depending on whom you ask.
