More than 40 percent of U.S. adults struggle to make ends meet, according to a new report from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. It found that the financial well-being of U.S. adults varies widely, with savings being the best indicator of wellness, even more than education or income. Those who had means to deal with emergencies were in the best shape. The agency used a large national survey to measure financial well-being, a concept it defined as:
- feeling in control over finances
- being able to absorb financial shocks
- being on track toward financial goals, and
- feeling free to make choices that allow enjoyment of life
The survey, conducted in late 2016, asked American questions about their incomes, savings and attitudes toward money. The results, according to the Financial Well-Being in America report, shows that 43 percent of respondents struggled to pay bills and 34 percent had experienced money problems in the past year, such as running out of food or being unable to afford medical treatment.
A Score For Consumers’ Financial Health
Survey respondents also received a “financial well-being score” between 0 and 100. The average score was 54. The report said about a third of people scored between 51 and 60, another third scored higher than that range, and the rest were below it. Individuals with scores of 50 or below had a high probability of experiencing hardship, while those with scores of 61 or above were likely to be able to make ends meet. Disparities by age group were found. Seniors ages 65 and older scored the best—about 10 points higher than young adults in the 18-to-34 group, who scored the worst.
A Safety Net Is Crucial
The CFPB findings highlight that a safety net of savings has a strong influence on financial stability. Adults with less than $250 in savings had average scores of 41, while those with savings of $5,000 or more scored well above average. The size of a respondent’s financial cushion, the CFPB noted, was the best indicator of well-being, even more than education or income. For most people, that financial cushion starts with these basics:
- An emergency fund. Even as little as $250 in the bank can keep you from going into debt over every unexpected expense.
- A budget. It’ll be easier to fuel your emergency fund if you know how much money’s coming in and have a plan for where it will go.
- A plan to pay down debt. Pick a strategy that will help you put a dent in what you owe. As you pay less to creditors, you can put more toward building your financial future.
Once you’ve tackled those three tasks, you’ll be able to set longer-term goals, such as saving for retirement.
Factors Affecting Financial Well-Being
Here are some factors that greatly enhanced financial well-being for people, the CFPB found:
- Having a savings cushion
- Having financial know-how
- Feeling confident about money
- Regularly saving money
By contrast, these experiences had strong negative associations for financial health:
- Having been denied credit
- Having used payday loans, pawn loans, or auto title loans
- Having been contacted by a debt collector
The survey found no differences in financial well-being due to region or gender. There were only minor differences due to belonging to a certain racial or ethnic group, with non-Hispanic whites reporting higher levels of financial wellness than the other groups.
The article Paying Bills Is a Grind for 43% of Americans, CFPB Finds originally appeared on NerdWallet.
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