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
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.
Is $1,000 enough for emergency fund? ›
How Much You Should Have in Your Emergency Savings. Here's a Dave Ramsey principle we agree with: If you make less than $20,000 per year, aim to have at least $500 in emergency savings. If you make more than $20,000, then aim for at least $1,000.
What percent of Americans have less than $500 in savings? ›
According to the survey, 49% of Americans have $500 or less in their savings account, with 36% reporting they have less than $100 saved up.
How much money should you have in savings for emergencies? ›
While the size of your emergency fund will vary depending on your lifestyle, monthly costs, income, and dependents, the rule of thumb is to put away at least three to six months' worth of expenses.
How much does the average American 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.
How many Americans can afford a $1,000 emergency? ›
According to the newest survey, only 44% of U.S. adults say they would pay an emergency expense of $1,000 or more from their savings.
How many Americans can't afford a $1000 emergency? ›
(KTLA) — A $1,000 unexpected emergency expense could derail the lives of more than half of all Americans, according to a new survey. 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.
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.
Do 45% of Americans have less that $1000 saved for a? ›
Having enough set aside for an unexpected car repair is a good place to start your emergency fund, but just 45% of Americans would be able to cover a $1,000 emergency expense without turning to a credit card or loan, according to the survey.
How many Americans have at least $100000 in savings? ›
Most American households have at least $1,000 in checking or savings accounts. But only about 12% have more than $100,000 in checking and savings.
The 50-30-20 rule recommends putting 50% of your money toward needs, 30% toward wants, and 20% toward savings. The savings category also includes money you will need to realize your future goals.
How much does the average middle class person have in savings? ›
American households, on average, had $41,600 in savings, based on figures from the Federal Reserve in 2019. In 2022, that amount rose to about $62,500–which not only includes savings, but also assets from checking, money market accounts prepaid debit cards and more.
How much emergency money does the average person have? ›
Six in 10 respondents say $2,500 or more, including 21% who say $10,000 or more. (Among those making $100,000 or more, 44% say they'd need $10,000 or more saved to feel comfortable — more than double the overall average.) Just 15% overall say less than $1,000.
Does the average American have $1000 in savings? ›
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.
Do 40% of Americans have less than $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.
What percentage of Americans have no 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.
What is the Dave Ramsey 1000 rule? ›
Baby Step 1: Save $1,000 in an Emergency Fund
Ramsey and Kleiner agree that setting $1,000 aside as soon as you can is a key first step toward walking away from debt. Being prepared when bad things happen minimizes the damage and avoids borrowing. So make a budget, then set the emergency funds aside.
Is $2000 a good emergency fund? ›
How Much Should You Keep in an Emergency Savings Account? There is no one-size-fits-all answer to how much you should keep in an emergency fund, but Orman said that $1,000 to $2,000 is usually enough. “With an emergency savings account, if you have $1,000 in there, you have $2,000 in there, great,” she said.
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.
Is $500 enough for an emergency fund? ›
The short answer: If you're starting out, try to set aside an amount that would cover an important bill, say $500. But keep working your way up. You'll want to max out at about half a year's worth of expenses.
