Utahns, Americans Get ‘F’ Grade In This Financial Category
More and more Americans are having to dip into their "Rainy Day Funds,' or emergency savings with inflation being the biggest culprit.
That's one of the many findings revealed in a study by Fidelity Investments.
In 2023, more than 40 percent of respondents to the poll who admit having to dip into their savings blame the ballooning costs of day-to-day living as the primary reason.
Others blame unexpected expenses, economic uncertainty and lack of self control for the shrinking of our savings accounts.
With the costs of goods like food, gas and clothing up more than 10 percent the last couple of years, inflation is still the top cause for the dwindling nest egg.
But even with the rising costs, many Americans are comically unwilling to make many changes. The survey found that more than 28 percent of people would rather take their chances finding love on a reality show than take their chances on the stock market.
Additionally, 52 percent of people said they'd rather trade humorous internet memes than trade stocks and 45 percent of people would rather take a clean-eating challenge than a no spending challenge for the entire month of January.
Another key finding, and perhaps a reflection on the state of the economy right now, only about one-fourth of people said they have plans (or the ability) to rebuild that emergency savings account.
It's not all grim news, however. Fidelity did report that almost three out of every four people in the survey believe they'll be better off financially next year, and that number jumps to nearly 80 percent when you consider the younger respondents, Gen Z'ers and Millennials.
National estimates say about one on five Americans have zero money in savings right now.
And in a study of average retirement savings in each state, Utah comes in dead last.
According to data from SoFi, Utahns on average have $315,160 saved for retirement.
That's less than any other state in America
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