45% Say All Money Goes to Living Expenses

Publication Date: 04/17/2026 9:36 AM CST

45% Say All Money Goes to Living Expenses

Publication: 04/17/2026 9:36 AM CST

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Forty-five percent (45%) of registered voters say all their money goes to living expenses.
- This is up 1 point from 2 weeks ago but down 4 points from a month ago.
- Half(50%) say they can set aside money for savings, down 1 point from 2 weeks ago and up 5 points from a month ago.
- Three quarters (76%) of postgraduates say they can regularly set aside money.
- Six in 10 (61%) voters who don't own a home say all of their income goes to living expenses.
If a surprise expense of $1,000 came up, 46% of voters say they would need to cut back on their lifestyle.
- This is up 5 points from 2 weeks ago and down 3 from a month ago.
- Meanwhile, 48% said they could make the surprise payment without cutting back, down 6 points from 2 weeks ago and up 4 points from a month ago.
About half (54%) of voters say they paid off their credit cards in full over the past month, up 2 points from 2 weeks ago and up 6 points from a month ago.
- A large majority (69%) of postgraduates say they paid off their credit cards.
- A solid majority (63%) of retired voters also say they paid off their credit cards in full.
- Thirty-eight percent (38%) of voters say they had to make partial payments, the same as 2 weeks ago.

See also: Opinions on the Economy and Personal Finances.

This data is from a Napolitan News Service survey of 1,000 Registered Voters conducted online by Scott Rasmussen, April 13-14, 2026. RMG Research, Inc., conducted the field work for the survey. It has a margin of error of +/- 3.1.