44% of Americans can't pay an unexpected $1,000 expense from savings. ‘We're just not wired to save,’ expert says - eviltoast

When faced with an unexpected $1,000 expense, more than one-third of Americans would borrow the money, according to a new Bankrate survey. That may include tapping their credit cards, seeking money from friends or family or taking out a personal loan.

Most would not turn to cash savings because they don’t have it, the personal finance website found.

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.

“We’re just not wired to save,” said Brad Klontz, a certified financial planner and expert in financial psychology and behavioral finance. Our brains are instead programmed to focus on our immediate needs.

  • Snot Flickerman@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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    10 months ago

    Dude go jump in a wood chipper, please.

    I’m poor and I have cancer meds that cost $16k a month. You literally don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about. I can’t spend money on anything extra if I fucking wanted to.

    So you’re better off being used as kindling. Because you’ve got no evidence your position is true other than your feelings.

    Man, fuck your feelings, put them in a wood chipper, too. Come with some data or fuck off into a wood chipper.