46% Say All Money Goes to Living Expenses

Publication Date: 03/06/2026 5:00 AM CST

46% Say All Money Goes to Living Expenses

Publication: 03/06/2026 5:00 AM CST

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Forty-six percent (46%) of registered voters say all their money goes to living expenses.
- This is down 2 points from 2 weeks ago and up 3 points from a month ago.
- Almost half (48%) of voters say they can set aside money for savings, up 2 points from 2 weeks ago and down 5 points from a month ago.
If a surprise expense of $1,000 came up, 52% of voters say they would need to cut back on their lifestyle.
- This is down 5 points from 2 weeks ago and up 1 point from a month ago.
- In late July, a high of 51% said they would have to cut back.
- Meanwhile, 52% said they could make the surprise payment without cutting back, up 7 points from 2 weeks ago and up 1 point from a month ago.
Half (50%) of voters say they paid off their credit cards in full over the past month, up 5 points from 2 weeks ago and up 1 point from a month ago.
- Forty percent (40%) say they had to make partial payments, down 3 points from 2 weeks ago.
- A majority (66%) of voters over 65 paid off their credit cards.
In regards to basic household expenses like food, clothing, and utilities, 57% of voters say they are paying more than they were a year ago.
- Just 23% say they are paying less.
- Seventeen percent (17%) say they're paying about the same amount.
- These numbers mirror voter opinions in April 2025.
- In November and February 2025, more voters said they were paying more than they were the year before --- 62% and 64%, respectively.

This data is from a Napolitan News Service survey of 1,000 Registered Voters conducted online by Scott Rasmussen, March 2-3, 2026. RMG Research, Inc., conducted the field work for the survey. It has a margin of error of +/- 3.1.