Question of the Day: What percentage of Americans would cover a $400 emergency with cash?
Whether it's a faulty furnace or a broken bone...how many people are ready to pay for an emergency?
Answer: 63%
63% of Americans say they would cover a $400 emergency with cash*, meaning they could pay the cost without borrowing money or selling something.
*This method includes cash equivalents, like funds from savings account, or a credit card transaction paid off next statement.
Questions:
- Are you surprised by this number? Why or why not?
- What are some emergency expenses that could amount to $400?
- How do you think the remaining 37% cover this emergency cost?
- Your friend says “Why would you want to save money when interest rates that banks pay for savings are so low?” Convince them that saving money is a good idea.
Click here for the ready-to-go slides for this Question of the Day that you can use in your classroom.
Behind the numbers (Federal Reserve Board):
"Relatively small, unexpected expenses, such as a car repair or a modest medical bill, can be a hardship for many families, especially those without a financial cushion. When faced with a hypothetical expense of $400, 63 percent of all adults in 2023 said they would have covered it exclusively using cash, savings, or a credit card paid off at the next statement (referred to, altogether, as “cash or its equivalent”). The remainder said they would have paid by borrowing or selling something or said they would not have been able to cover the expense."
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Our DATA CRUNCH: How Would Americans Cover a $400 Emergency? fits perfectly with this post.
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Your students can play the NGPF Arcade Game "Spent" to experience what it means to live one unexpected expense away from financial difficulties.
About the Author
Kathryn Dawson
Kathryn (she/her) is excited to join the NGPF team after 9 years of experience in education as a mentor, tutor, and special education teacher. She is a graduate of Cornell University with a degree in policy analysis and management and has a master's degree in education from Brooklyn College. Kathryn is looking forward to bringing her passion for accessibility and educational justice into curriculum design at NGPF. During her free time, Kathryn loves embarking on cooking projects, walking around her Seattle neighborhood with her dog, or lounging in a hammock with a book.
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