By CNBC
Filed under: Personal Finance, Debt, Credit Cards, Checking Accounts, Savings Accounts
Rumors of the spendthrift American consumer may be slightly exaggerated. Bankrate’s 2013 February Financial Security Index found that a majority of consumers — by a narrow margin — say they have more savings than credit card debt.
For more than half the country, 55 percent, an emergency fund outweighs credit card debt. Nearly a quarter, 24 percent, admit to having more debt on plastic than money in the bank, while 16 percent say they have neither credit card debt nor savings. That puts 40 percent of the population close to the edge of ruin while everyone else seems to be sitting pretty.
If most people have more savings than credit card debt, “Why are so many people broke?”
It’s a curious question. The answer may be that although credit card balances came down through the financial downturn that began in 2007, consumers’ fundamental behavior of not saving enough did not change.
According to the Department of Commerce, for 2012, the overall savings of the average household were 3.9 percent, much better compared to the 0.9 percent Americans were saving in 2001. However, this is down from the average 5.4 percent savings rate in 2008.
Even with a low savings rate, why wouldn’t a supposedly low credit card debt rate put Americans in better financial shape?
“The fact of the matter is that America is broke — whether it’s mortgages, student loans or credit cards, we are broke. The old rule of thumb is that people should have six months’ of savings,” Dvorkin says.”If you talk to people, most don’t have two pennies.”
Who’s In Trouble?
In Bankrate’s survey, men were more likely than women to say their emergency fund outweighed credit card debt, at 60 percent, compared to 49 percent of women.
But credit card debt hits all kinds of consumers. Bankrate’s survey has found that roughly a quarter of all income levels has more credit card debt than savings.
“Credit card debt will eat you alive no matter who you are,” Dvorkin says.
|
Income Levels With More Credit Card Debt Than Savings. |
|
Income Level |
$75K+ |
$50K-$74.9K |
$30K – $49.9K |
Under $30K |
|
2011 |
22% |
27% |
29% |
23% |
|
2012 |
20% |
31% |
27% |
30% |
|
2013 |
23% |
25% |
30% |
23% |
Those people with incomes more than $75,000 were less likely to have no savings or credit card debt compared to those at the opposite end of the spectrum, with incomes less than $30,000. Only 7 percent of high earners have no …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance