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:

1. Are you surprised by this number? Why or why not?
2. What are some emergency expenses that could amount to $400?
3. How do you think the remaining 37% cover this emergency cost?
4. 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 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").36 The remainder said they would have paid by borrowing or selling something or said they would not have been able to cover the expense. The share who would pay using cash or its equivalent was unchanged from 2022 and 2023."

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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. 

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