The Alarming State of Americans’ Savings

You’ve likely heard the expression about the importance of “saving for a rainy day.” If the results of a recent GOBankingRates’ survey on Americans’ saving habits are any indication, most Americans are hoping for eternal sunshine.

According to the new survey of more than 5,000 adults, nearly half of Americans have no savings. None.

A whopping 28 percent of Americans reported having a zero balance in their savings account, while 1 in 5 people said they don’t even have a savings account.

Of the 51 percent of Americans who have money in savings, this is their account balance:

• Just the minimum balance requirement, which varies widely depending on the bank – 9 percent
• Less than $1,000 – 13 percent
• $1,000 to $4,999 – 10 percent
• $5,000 to $9,999 – 5 percent
• $10,000 or more – 14 percent

“It’s worrisome that such a large percentage of Americans have so little set aside in a savings account,” said Cameron Huddleston, a personal finance analyst for the site. “They likely don’t have cash reserves to cover an emergency and will have to rely on credit, friends and family, or even their retirement accounts to cover unexpected expenses.”

Generation Xers, those 34 to 54 years of age, make up the biggest age group of nonsavers (31 percent), while baby boomers (17 percent) and seniors 65 and older (20 percent) report having the most money saved of all age groups.

If you’re a nonsaver and you want to change that, check out “Drop These 5 Bad Money Habits and Grow Your Savings.”

For those of you who are saving, find great tips at “7 Ways to Make Your Savings Grow Faster Automatically” and “8 Ways to Earn More on Your Savings.”

Are you a routine saver? How much do you try to sock away? Share your comments below or on our Facebook page.

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