One in every five Americans is not making ends meet, according to a new study.
Country Financial of Bloomington, Ind., published this finding in a summary of results from a national telephone survey of 3,000 Americans. The results were compiled by the research firm Rasmussen Reports, LLC, of Asbury Park, N.J.
The survey reveals that while fewer than 1 in 10 Americans (9 percent) say their lifestyle is more than they can afford, more than one in five (21 percent) say their monthly spending exceeds their income at least half of the year.
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The survey attributes this "perception gap" to the fact that only 51 percent of Americans use a household budget system. Those who budget are more likely to set monthly savings goals (61 percent) than those who don't (30 percent).
But the survey adds that most budgeters (57 percent) and non-budgeters (54 percent) admit they meet their savings goals only half the time or less.
Among the survey's additional findings:
The 52 percent of Americans whose monthly spending exceeds their income at least a few months of the year rely on other means to make ends meet.
36 percent dip into savings to meet financial obligations.
22 percent use credit cards to meet financial obligations.
14 percent adjust spending the following month to meet financial obligations.
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