47% of Americans Couldn't Afford a $400 Unexpected Expense

[Taiko]

Originally Posted by Gtownoe

As part of its October 2014 survey, the agency asked 50,000 people if they could handle an unexpected “financial disruption” costing them $400. Just over half (53%) said they could “fairly easily handle such an expense” by using money in their bank accounts (checking or savings) or by leaning on a credit card.

But for 47% of respondents, $400 was a tougher problem to handle. Within this group, 14% said they simply couldn’t cover it. Another 10% would have to sell something, 13% would have to borrow money from a friend or relative and 2% would have to resort to a high-interest payday loan.

This finding was buried within the Fed report that otherwise offered a rosier outlook on the state of Americans’ financial status."

Well since 35% receive some kind of means tested government assistance that an additional 12% does not have a $400 cushion in cash or available credit doesn't seem out of line.

[Montygirl]

Originally Posted by littlemissrock

americans are notoriously bad with personal finance, no wonder the country if 18 trillions in debt

I'm not the US and I think the cost of living here is expensive, we have a 2 person working household although my job is low paid in education as its something I love doing and has to fit round my two kids or I have to shell out childcare costs especially for holiday time when they get 3 months here and have no family to help out. Was in same situation in UK with my job but saved more than I do here as quite a few things are more expensive here than before even though have health insurance. I am extremely sensible at saving & budgeting as was previously in accounts and also do not splurge on luxuries and here we don't eat out that often.I have NEVER been in debt even as a student, the only thing I have is a mortgage left in the UK which is being covered via someone renting it.Trouble is you pay for lots of things here prescriptions here and everything for kids which we don't in the UK and no set cost for prescriptions as depends on co pay and what practitioner gives you. Drugs companies there are more regulated. But here I get no holiday with my job and only a temp contract unless I do 30 hrs plus and although I earnt roughly the same I didn't pay any tax as the threshold is higher before you pay tax so I lose more money.Plus I pay 2 lots of tax here, state and federal. Lifestyle is fab in terms of outdoor living, weather is good but as my daughter plays soccer at high level as she did in the UK that costs well over $2000 a year which in the UK we don't have as the Soccer association pay for that and lottery funding grants even if you play at state level as she did. We only pay $200 a year there if that and that includes all tournaments, refrees fees, kit etc and as I said before $$ is not a barrier to progression.
Groceries are hugely expensive here unless its unhealthy stuff (sorry but true) I find fruit and a lot of vegetables far more expensive and was surprised that where I live groceries are actually more expensive than some of California. So don't come down on people because of it. Yes its my choice to get my daughter to continue with soccer but if we stay hopefully she gets a scholarship long term at college and if we don't I wat her to slip back into state level on her return to the UK which is very very difficult.Nothing to do with money, everything to do with competition for places. So I can see how people fine every day things like utilities and groceries eating into their income, especially if you have to adapt for work sometimes