As households continuously review budgets and admit to growing pressure from the cost of living, the data signaled a worrying statistic: 1 in 4 (29%) of people in the US describe their current financial situation as “unstable,” with San Diego (40%) and Denver (36%) topping the list.

Money is an emotionally harrowing topic for American adults, as half (50%) of Americans often experience feelings of hopelessness and despair due to financial difficulties. San Francisco reports the lowest level of financial worry: 28% of people here do not worry often about their finances, compared to a whopping 67% of people living in Phoenix, while Columbus residents are more likely to experience physical symptoms resulting from financial stress, such as headaches, than in any other city in the US (56%). Phoenix and Columbus also rank high for percentages of adults that anticipate cutting costs this year, at 63% and 56% respectively, joining cities like Memphis (62%) and Indianapolis (60%).

So what are people doing to improve their financial situation? For 1 in 2 Americans (50%), the answer was simple: cutting costs. Taking out a loan was among preferred options in Los Angeles (13%), while San Diego reported the highest number of people who answered that they were investing in stocks and funds (30%), followed closely by New York (29%) and Los Angeles (28%). Americans in Boston and Chicago are less likely than people in Houston or San Jose to ask friends and family to borrow money (12% and 11%, compared to 19% and 20%) in order to improve their financial situation.

Regarding financial literacy, Denver has the highest number of people who report having “low or no financial knowledge” (39%); while in Austin and New York City, three-quarters (76%) of people describe themselves as having a mid or high level of financial knowledge.

New data also highlights priorities for people in the US when it comes to financial planning, with 16% of Americans responding that they never save any of their monthly income. Our survey showed that the North East is home to some of the best savers in the US – with 79% saving money every single month. In terms of what people are saving for, we found that San Fransiscans are the most likely to be saving for retirement (27%), followed by Bostonians (24%). People in Memphis (21%), Detroit (22%), and Philadelphia (22%) are the least likely to prioritize buying a house within the next five years.

Nearly two thirds (65%) of women say they often worry about finances, with 57% of men agreeing with this sentiment. Overall, men tend to be more optimistic about improving their financial situation, with 63% of respondents saying they feel optimistic or very optimistic, compared to 52% of women. We found that nearly 1 in 4 men (24%) described their financial situation as “unstable,” compared to 33% of women.

And while over half (56%) of women say they will cut costs in order to improve their financial situation, only 44% of men agree. Instead, men are more likely to opt for savings and investment products, including fixed rate deposits (24% vs 19%), investing in stocks (26% vs 15%) and investing in crypto (17% vs 6%).

When it comes to financial planning, 41% of Americans respond that their top priority for the next 12 months is simply meeting basic living expenses. The next ranking priorities for men are paying off debt and saving for emergencies (30% each). The second ranked priority for women is also paying off debt, at 41%.

It’s not necessarily the younger generations who live with the highest level of financial instability: we found that while 1 in 4 Americans aged 18-24 (27%) described their current financial situation as “unstable,” this figure was higher amongst all other age groups, with 45-54 year olds ranking highest (35%), followed by ages 55+ (29%). 

Just over two thirds (68%) of 35-44 year olds say they often worry about finances, the highest of any age group. Generally, younger people tend to be more optimistic about their finances, with roughly 60% of those under 44 reporting they feel optimistic about improving their situation in the next six months, compared to less than 52% of those 45-54, and 47% of Americans over 55.

The 55+ age group is most likely to cut costs in order to improve their financial situation (60%), although this is the preferred method reported by all age groups.

Meeting basic living expenses was the number one priority across the board, while the second biggest priority for the next 12 months for 18-24 year olds is saving for a car (34%).

Discussing the findings, Cetin Duransoy, CEO of Raisin US, highlighted: “A significant number of people are struggling to make proactive financial decisions. This is evident across different age groups and income levels, from those who find it challenging to set aside money for emergencies to retirees who struggle to make their retirement savings work during the current economic crisis. No matter what your personal circumstances may be, understanding how to make informed financial decisions is crucial.

“Our new ‘Journey to Financial Wellness’ initiative seeks to assist consumers in improving their financial literacy and making more informed financial decisions in just half an hour. This campaign aims to address people’s challenges in managing their finances by providing them with easy-to-understand information and guidance.”