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
Most American adults don't have enough savings to pay an emergency $1,000 expense. 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.
What percentage of Americans can cover a $1000 emergency? ›
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.
Is a $1000 emergency fund enough? ›
New study exposes finances of Americans: Most can't handle a $1,000 emergency expense. Planning for the unexpected is crucial since life doesn't always go as planned. But only 44% of Americans are prepared for a $1,000 emergency expense, according to a survey from financial analysis site Bankrate.
Do 30% of Americans have no savings? ›
If you've got nothing saved for retirement, you're not alone. Nearly 30% of Americans have $0 saved for retirement, per recent data from personal finance website GOBankingRates. Another 33% have less than $50,000 saved.
How much does the average American have saved for emergencies? ›
The GBR study revealed that half don't have any emergency savings at all. Those who do are most likely to have $1,000 or less, which isn't nearly enough to get the typical household through a single month — or possibly even a single vehicle breakdown or home repair.
How many Americans can't afford a $1,000 emergency? ›
The survey was conducted by Bankrate, a financial analysis and comparison site. Bankrate found that only 44% of Americans surveyed could afford a $1,000 emergency expense. That number is actually up one percentage point from the previous year, the company said.
How many people can afford a $1000 emergency? ›
Only 44% of U.S. adults would pay an emergency expense of $1,000 or more from their savings, as of December 2023 polling. 35% would borrow money, including 21% who would finance with a credit card and pay it off over time, 10% who would borrow from family or friends and 4% who would take out a personal loan.
What percent of Americans don't have $1000? ›
49% of Americans Can't Afford a $1,000 Emergency, With Many Relying on Credit Cards for Unexpected Expenses.
Can $1,000 last a month? ›
The harsh truth is that $1,000 per month is very hard to live on, even if you lower your costs to the bare minimum. With inflation causing the prices of goods and services to increase every year, $1,000 a month will become harder and harder to live on going forward.
What is the Dave Ramsey 1000 rule? ›
Baby Step 1: Save $1,000 for Your Starter Emergency Fund
In this first step, your goal is to save $1,000 as fast as you can. Your emergency fund will cover those unexpected life events you can't plan for.
Key Findings. 48.6% of Americans consider themselves to be “broke,” and 66.2% feel they are “living paycheck to paycheck.” There is a gender gap in the results: Females are more likely to consider themselves “broke” at 55.8%, compared to males at 41.1%.
How many Americans retire with no savings? ›
The survey found that about 37% of retirees say they have no retirement savings, up from 30% in 2022, and only about 12% have at least the recommended $555,000 in savings. The high percentages of retirees with little to nothing saved may have to do with factors beyond their control.
Why do Americans save so little? ›
“People are hit on both fronts — lower real wages and higher rates.” That makes it particularly hard to set any money aside, said Winnie Sun, co-founder and managing director of Sun Group Wealth Partners, based in Irvine, California, and a member of CNBC's Financial Advisor Council.
How many Americans can't afford an emergency expense? ›
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.
What is the best state to save money? ›
North Dakota tops the list as the best place to live to save money. This midwestern state boasts the third-lowest debt-to-income ratio in the country as of Q3 2023, meaning North Dakotans have a light debt load relative to their earnings compared to other states. Housing costs are also quite affordable in North Dakota.
How many Americans don't have $500? ›
Nearly half of Americans have $500 or less in their savings accounts, an amount that leaves them vulnerable to unexpected expenses, according to a GOBankingRates survey of 1,063 U.S. adults conducted in November 2023.
How many Americans can't handle a $500 emergency? ›
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How can I get a $1000 emergency fund? ›
How to Build an Emergency Fund
- Set a total savings goal. Okay, what are you looking to save: that $1,000 starter emergency fund or the 3–6 month fully funded emergency fund? ...
- Make a budget. ...
- Decrease your expenses. ...
- Increase your income. ...
- Automate your savings.
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.
How much money should someone have for emergency? ›
As a general rule of thumb, most financial experts recommend keeping three to six months' worth of essential expenses in an emergency fund. For example, if your monthly expenses are $3,000, your eventual goal would be to keep between $9,000 and $18,000 in an emergency fund.
