Americans lack emergency savings amid ‘dangerous scenario’

An unexpected bill is not convenient at all.

But there are more reasons now that an unexpected event–such as a car repair or medical expense–could put Americans on a precarious financial footing.

blaming High inflation recordwhich rose to the highest levels in 40 years and Prices raised For everything, including staples like butter, lettuce, and dairy.

As 2023 approaches, Recession risks also loom. The question is whether the downturn will be mild or prolonged, while notable tech employers such as Amazon and Google have already done so. I started cutting jobs.

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Meanwhile, the federal government has I reached the debt ceiling. It is now up to lawmakers to find a solution so that the US government can She continues to pay her bills.

“We’re in a financial epidemic right now, so to speak,” personal finance expert Suze Orman told CNBC.com.

“It’s … a much more dire scenario now than it was during the pandemic,” Orman said of the current financial risks Americans face.

Many Americans have been able to set aside more money than usual during the Covid-19 pandemic, as government aid intended Additional unemployment benefits For Americans out of work for a longer period, while millions of individuals and families Receive stimulus checks.

These federal funds are now dwindling as laws — Orman said. Including rents That has tripled in some cases and interest rates on mortgages that are higher than they were before the pandemic — it’s starting to show.

The environment, she said, may be the wake-up call many Americans need.

“You have to have an emergency savings account, whether you’re in a recession or not,” Orman said.

A new survey finds that 74% of Americans now live paycheck to paycheck, according to SecureSavea financial technology company that aims to help workers make emergency savings through their employers.

With inflation soaring, more than half of respondents — 54% — have cut back on their savings in the past year, according to SecureSave’s November online survey of more than 1,000 US adults.

About 67% of workers cannot afford the $400 emergency expense.

Orman co-founded SecureSave during the pandemic after for 40 years telling people they needed a savings account.

“Our goal was very simple: Let’s see if we can change the savings rate in America for those who have never saved a penny,” Orman said.

Many people often fall short of this goal. a New survey from Bankrate.com It found that most adults — 57% — were unable to afford the $1,000 emergency expenses.

“People can’t do it alone,” Orman said. “The key is not to see it in your paycheck.”

Through SecureSave, workers can have savings — such as $25 — automatically taken out of their paycheck, and they may also receive $3 or $5 from their employers.

Orman said that at the end of the year, people are often surprised by how much they save, whether it’s $600 or $1,000.

“They love it,” she noted. “Often they will raise their salary contributions.

“Once you start to see how easy it is to save, the more you want to save,” Orman said.

By pooling the cash you have on hand, you may be able to avoid resorting to credit cards with higher interest rates.

To this point, 25% of consumers surveyed by Bankrate.com said they would have an unexpected charge of $1,000 or more and pay it off over time.

Mark Hamrick, chief economist at Bankrate.com, noted that this strategy will now be more affordable, with new credit card offers to even the most qualified individuals with interest rates close to 20%.