Many also said they could improve their finances by paying down credit cards and increasing retirement savings.
Feeling Financial Stress
Forty-four percent of survey respondents reported feeling stress about finances, about the same levels as reported last year. Another 41% said they are more stressed this year, while just 16% said they are less stressed.
Fifty-two percent of millennials reported feeling more stress this year, compared with 37% of Gen Xers and 23% of boomers.
As to what is causing their financial stress, 54% of respondents put it down to the cost of day-to-day expenses, 49% said their income or retirement income is too low, 35% cited too small an emergency fund and 35% said too much debt is contributing to their financial stress.
The survey found that a majority of Americans confess bad financial habits:
- 30% spend too much on things they do not need
- 28% do not save any money
- 27% save some money, but not as much as they could
- 23% are not paying down debt fast enough
- 21% spend more that they make
Many Americans surveyed have a brighter outlook for their finances in the new year. Thirty-five percent of respondents expect their financial situation to improve. At the same time, 25% said their overall financial situation improved in 2024.
“Americans who are looking to improve their financial health in 2025 can work with a financial professional who can help them create a strong financial strategy for their future,” LaVigne said. “That strategy can help decrease stress by providing a guide for how to curb excessive spending and prioritizing saving.”
