Appendix C: Consumer Responses to Survey Questions
Questions are listed below in the order in which they were presented to respondents, although not all questions were asked to all respondents. Questions with fewer than 6,610 respondents were not asked to the full sample, and readers are advised to refer to appendix B for details on question-specific screening criteria. All data are weighted to yield estimates for the U.S. adult population.
Question L0. Do each of the following types of people currently live with you in your household?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| My spouse or partner | 64.6 |
| My child or children who are under age 18 | 27.6 |
| My adult child or children who are age 18 or older | 15.6 |
| My parents | 13.3 |
| My extended family such as brothers, sisters or cousins | 10.2 |
| Roommate(s) who are not related to me | 5.7 |
| Other individuals (please specify) | 0.3 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 6,610.
Question L0A. Which of the following best describes the adult children (who are age 18 or older) who live with you?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| All of the adult children living with me are currently enrolled in school | 37.1 |
| One or more of the adult children who lives with me is not currently enrolled in school | 61.4 |
| Refused | 1.0 |
| Not asked | 0.4 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 979.
Question L1. You indicated that you live with (your parents, extended family members, a roommate, adult children who are not in school, or) someone outside of your immediate family. Are each of the following reasons why you live with these individuals?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| To save money | 66.2 |
| To provide financial assistance to those living with me | 36.9 |
| To care for sick, disabled, or elderly family member or friend | 20.6 |
| To receive assistance with child care | 5.3 |
| Companionship/prefer living with others | 34.1 |
| Other (please specify) | 11.7 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 1,638.
Question L2. Could you (and your spouse/and your partner) afford to live on your own in your current neighborhood if you had to?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Definitely yes | 38.0 |
| Probably yes | 18.8 |
| Probably no | 18.9 |
| Definitely no | 24.4 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 1,638.
Question L3. Would you (and your spouse/and your partner) prefer to live on your own if you could afford to?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Yes | 69.1 |
| No | 30.7 |
| Refused | 0.2 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 609.
Question B2. Overall, which one of the following best describes how well you are managing financially these days:
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Living comfortably | 29.5 |
| Doing okay | 40.5 |
| Just getting by | 21.4 |
| Finding it difficult to get by | 8.5 |
| Refused | 0.1 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 6,610.
Question B3. Compared to 12 months ago, would you say that you (and your family living with you) are better off, the same, or worse off financially?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Much better off | 6.3 |
| Somewhat better off | 20.9 |
| About the same | 55.2 |
| Somewhat worse off | 14.3 |
| Much worse off | 3.1 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 6,610.
Question B6. Think of your parents when they were your age. Would you say you (and your family living with you) are better, the same, or worse off financially than they were?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Much better off | 22.5 |
| Somewhat better off | 30.9 |
| About the same | 24.6 |
| Somewhat worse off | 15.8 |
| Much worse off | 5.8 |
| Refused | 0.4 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 6,610.
Question B6A. Thinking about your family when you were growing up (under age 17), would you say your family during that time was generally pretty well off financially, about average, poor, or did it vary?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Pretty well off financially | 13.4 |
| About average | 57.2 |
| Poor | 22.8 |
| It varied | 6.4 |
| Refused | 0.2 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 6,610.
Question D1. Do each of the following describe your employment situation in the past month?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Employed for someone else | 55.5 |
| Self-employed | 10.1 |
| Temporarily laid off | 1.7 |
| Not employed, but looking for a job | 6.7 |
| Not employed, and not looking for a job | 9.0 |
| Homemaker | 15.4 |
| Student | 10.1 |
| Disabled and not working | 7.8 |
| Retired | 21.5 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 6,610.
Question D2. In the past month, which one of the following do you consider to best describe your employment situation?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Employed for someone else | 51.3 |
| Self-employed | 6.1 |
| Temporarily laid off | 0.4 |
| Not employed, but looking for a job | 3.6 |
| Not employed, and not looking for a job | 1.5 |
| Homemaker | 7.3 |
| Student | 5.4 |
| Disabled and not working | 5.7 |
| Retired | 18.7 |
| Refused | 0.1 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 6,610.
Question D3. Think about the main job that you had in the past month. In this job, did you:
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Work full time for someone else | 70.8 |
| Work part time for someone else | 16.0 |
| Work for yourself (self-employed) or as a sole proprietor | 9.2 |
| Work as a partner in a partnership (e.g., partner in law firm, medical practice) | 1.0 |
| Work as a consultant/contractor | 2.5 |
| Refused | 0.7 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 3,686.
Question D3A. Still thinking about your main job, do you normally start and end work around the same time each day that you work or does it vary from week to week?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Normally work the same hours | 74.5 |
| Schedule varies, primarily at my request | 8.5 |
| Schedule varies, primarily based on my employer's needs | 16.9 |
| Refused | 0.1 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 3,204.
Question D3B. Approximately how far in advance does your employer usually tell you the hours that you will need to work on any given day?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| One day in advance or less (including on call) | 37.4 |
| 2 to 3 days in advance | 16.5 |
| 4 to 6 days in advance | 11.8 |
| 1 to 2 weeks in advance | 19.3 |
| 2 to 4 weeks in advance | 7.9 |
| More than a month in advance | 7.0 |
| Refused | 0.1 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 567.
Question D3C. Still thinking about your main job, does your employer offer you each of the following benefits (even if you do not personally use the benefit)?
| Response | Refused | Yes | No | Don't know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paid sick leave | 0.3 | 65.5 | 30.4 | 3.8 |
| Paid vacation/personal leave | 0.2 | 77.3 | 20.2 | 2.2 |
| Maternity or paternity leave | 0.6 | 52.0 | 30.9 | 16.5 |
| Health insurance | 0.2 | 77.2 | 20.5 | 2.1 |
| Disability insurance | 0.5 | 58.3 | 30.0 | 11.2 |
| Life insurance | 0.7 | 62.6 | 29.6 | 7.1 |
| Retirement benefits | 0.3 | 67.4 | 26.8 | 5.5 |
| Ability to work from home | 0.8 | 24.9 | 70.6 | 3.8 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 3,204.
Question D3D. Still thinking about your main job, how does your employer normally pay you for your work?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Direct-deposit into your bank account or credit union account | 82.8 |
| Paper check | 14.5 |
| Deposit onto a reloadable prepaid card | 1.3 |
| Cash | 1.0 |
| Other (please specify) | 0.3 |
| Refused | 0.1 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 3,204.
Question D4. In addition to your main job, in the past month did you have any other paid jobs?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| I had another full-time job | 2.5 |
| I had another part-time job | 13.0 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 3,686.
Question D6. In the past 12 months, have you done each of the following:
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Asked for a raise or a promotion at work | 15.7 |
| Received a raise or a promotion at work | 45.7 |
| Applied for a new job | 24.3 |
| Started a new job | 13.8 |
| Voluntarily left a job | 9.7 |
| Gotten laid off or fired from a job | 3.8 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 3,187 (a, b) and 5,350 (c, d, e, f).
Question D7. Thinking about the raise you received in the past 12 months, how did this raise compare to changes in your living expenses over that period?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| It failed to keep up with changing living expenses | 42.4 |
| It was in line with changes in living expenses | 45.8 |
| It exceeded changes in living expenses | 11.7 |
| Refused | 0.1 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 1,428.
Question D8. How much do each of the following impact your ability to work for pay or work as much as you would like?
| Response | Percent | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Refused | Noimpact | Minor impact | Moderate impact | Severe impact | |
| Child care responsibilities | 0.5 | 76.8 | 8.2 | 7.5 | 7.0 |
| Caretaking responsibilities for someone other than a child (such as a parent) | 0.5 | 85.5 | 7.3 | 4.4 | 2.2 |
| Health problems of my own | 0.4 | 67.2 | 15.3 | 9.0 | 8.2 |
| Difficulty arranging transportation to or from work | 0.4 | 85.1 | 7.0 | 4.8 | 2.6 |
| Employer's restrictions for how many hours I work | 0.1 | 76.1 | 11.4 | 8.4 | 3.9 |
| Employer sets or schedules the times or shifts that I work | 0.4 | 71.7 | 14.3 | 9.0 | 4.6 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 5,350 (a, b, c, d) and 3,187 (e, f).
Question D5. Which one of the following best describes your spouse's/partner's current employment status?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Employed full time | 55.5 |
| Employed part time | 8.3 |
| Temporarily laid off | 0.2 |
| Not employed, but looking for a job | 1.9 |
| Not employed and not looking for a job | 0.9 |
| Homemaker | 7.0 |
| Student | 1.4 |
| Disabled and not working | 4.0 |
| Retired | 20.2 |
| Refused | 0.7 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 3,979.
Question D9A. In the past month, have you been paid for each of the following occasional work activities or side jobs? Please do not include activities that you only do as part of your main job.
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Babysitting, child care services, dog walking, and/or house sitting | 5.2 |
| Disabled adult and/or elder care services | 2.4 |
| House cleaning, house painting, yard work, landscaping, and/or other property maintenance work | 7.0 |
| Providing personal services to individuals, such as picking up their dry cleaning, helping people move, running errands, booking travel, etc. | 4.0 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 6,610.
Question D9B. In the past month, have you been paid for each of the following occasional work activities or side jobs? Please do not include activities that you only do as part of your main job.
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Completing online tasks through websites, such as Amazon Services, Mechanical Turk, Fiverr, Task Rabbit, or YouTube. Such tasks might include editing documents, reviewing resumes, writing songs, creating graphic designs, rating pictures, posting videos, blog posts, etc. | 4.6 |
| Renting out property, such as your car, your place of residence, or other items you own, through websites, newspaper ads, flyers, etc. | 3.1 |
| Selling new/used goods, handcrafts, etc., online through eBay, Craigslist, or other websites | 9.5 |
| Other online paid activities (do not include taking GfK Surveys). Please specify: | 1.5 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 6,610.
Question D9C. In the past month, have you been paid for each of the following occasional work activities or side jobs? Please do not include activities that you only do as part of your main job.
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Selling goods (such as food, handcrafts, etc.) or services at flea markets, swap meets, garage sales, mobile vans/trucks, stalls/kiosks or other temporary physical outlets/locations | 4.9 |
| Selling used goods (such as clothes, wedding dresses, handcrafts, etc.) at consignment shops or thrift stores | 4.4 |
| Any other paid activities that you have not yet mentioned (do not include taking GfK Surveys). Please specify: | 3.2 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 6,610.
Question D10. In the past month, what are the reasons why you have engaged in occasional paid work activities or side jobs? Check all that apply.
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| To earn money as a primary source of income | 23.3 |
| To earn extra money on top of pay from a current job, retirement, pension, disability, or other regular source of income | 47.8 |
| To earn extra money to help family members | 14.1 |
| To maintain existing job-related skills | 5.6 |
| To acquire new job-related skills | 6.2 |
| To network/meet people | 6.0 |
| Just for fun (as a hobby) | 26.3 |
| Other (please specify) | 9.8 |
| Refused | 3.2 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 1,753.
Question D11. In the past month, what is the main reason why you have engaged in occasional paid work activities or side jobs?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| To earn money as a primary source of income | 18.5 |
| To earn extra money on top of pay from a current job, retirement, pension, disability, or other regular source of income | 41.9 |
| To earn extra money to help family members | 8.1 |
| To maintain existing job-related skills | 1.2 |
| To acquire new job-related skills | 1.6 |
| To network/meet people | 0.9 |
| Just for fun (as a hobby) | 17.5 |
| Other | 10.2 |
| Refused | 0.2 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 1,693.
Question D12. Excluding GfK surveys, considering all occasional paid work activities or side jobs in which you participated in last month (those that are not part of your main paid job(s)):
| Response | Mean | Median |
|---|---|---|
| How much time do you usually spend per month on occasional paid work activities or side jobs, other than your primary job? (hours per month) | 18.5 | 6 |
| About how much of your monthly income do you (and your spouse/and your partner) usually get from occasional paid work activities or side jobs? For example, 10% of your income, or 60% of your income. (% of overall income) (>0) | 14.5 | 5 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 1,716 (a) and 1,399 (b).
Question D13. Six months from now, do you expect to devote more, the same, or less time to occasional paid work activities or side jobs other than your main job compared to today?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| More | 22.7 |
| Less | 21.7 |
| About the same | 54.5 |
| Refused | 1.1 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 1,753.
Question D14. To what extent have occasional paid work activities or side jobs helped you to offset any negative effects of unemployment, loss of working hours, loss of benefits, or frozen wages in a formal job in the last year?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Very much | 9.5 |
| Somewhat | 27.9 |
| Not at all | 29.5 |
| Does not apply | 32.2 |
| Refused | 0.9 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 1,753.
Question D15. In the past 12 months, to what extent has the money earned from occasional paid work activities or side jobs been a significant source of income for you (and your spouse/and your partner)?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Very much | 10.1 |
| Somewhat | 23.7 |
| Not at all | 51.0 |
| Does not apply | 14.6 |
| Refused | 0.5 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 1,753.
Question D16. In the past 12 months, to what extent has the money earned from occasional paid work activities or side jobs been a regular/consistent source of income for you and your spouse/partner?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Very much | 10.1 |
| Somewhat | 27.0 |
| Not at all | 48.4 |
| Does not apply | 14.0 |
| Refused | 0.5 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 1,753.
Question D17. In the past month, did you do each of the following types of unpaid work for someone else?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Apprenticeship or internship | 1.9 |
| Volunteer work | 25.0 |
| Bartering (work done in exchange for an item or service of similar value) | 3.7 |
| Other (please specify) | 1.2 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 6,610.
Question D17B. Which of the following are reasons that you did unpaid work for someone else in the past month?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| To improve the local community | 62.7 |
| To help others or give back to society | 74.0 |
| To maintain existing job-related skills | 15.6 |
| To acquire new job-related skills | 15.6 |
| To network/meet people | 31.0 |
| Just for fun (as a hobby) | 47.9 |
| Other (please specify) | 10.9 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 1,801.
Question GH1. Which one of the following best describes your housing arrangement where you currently live?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| I (and/or my spouse and/or my partner) own our/my home with a mortgage or loan | 42.4 |
| I (and/or my spouse and/or my partner) own our/my home free and clear (without a mortgage or loan) | 18.8 |
| I (and/or my spouse and/or my partner) pay rent | 27.6 |
| I (and/or my spouse and/or my partner) don't own our/my home or pay rent | 10.6 |
| Refused | 0.5 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 6,610.
Question GH2. In what year did you (buy/start renting/move into) your current home?
| Statistic | Year |
|---|---|
| Mean | 2004 |
| Median | 2007 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 6,534.
Question R1. Please select all the reasons below for why you rent your home rather than own your home.
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| It's cheaper to rent than own a home | 23.1 |
| Owning a home is a bigger financial risk | 21.8 |
| It's more convenient to rent (for example, you can move easily) | 28.4 |
| I plan on moving in the near future | 25.9 |
| I can't qualify for a mortgage to buy a home | 29.6 |
| I can't afford the down payment to buy a home | 49.9 |
| I simply prefer to rent | 19.0 |
| I'm currently looking to buy a home | 13.3 |
| Other (please specify) | 9.7 |
| Refused | 0.4 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 1,819.
Question R4. Did you own your previous home that you moved from in [year of last move]?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| No | 88.9 |
| Yes, and I still own that home | 5.8 |
| Yes, and I sold that home | 5.0 |
| Refused | 0.2 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 672.
Question R5A. An eviction is when your landlord forces you to move when you don't want to. Were you, or a person you were staying with, evicted from the home you moved from in [year of last move]?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Yes | 5.0 |
| No | 94.7 |
| Refused | 0.3 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 599.
Question R5B. Did each of the following contribute to your moving from your previous home in [year of last move]?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Received an eviction notice | 0.6 |
| Your landlord told you, or a person you were staying with, to leave | 2.2 |
| You, or a person you were staying with, missed a rent payment and thought that if you didn't move you would be evicted | 1.0 |
| The city condemned the property and forced you to leave | 0.7 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 565.
Question R5C. Did each of the following contribute to your moving from your previous home in [year of last move]?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Bank took possession of your home in foreclosure | 2.6 |
| Received a notice from the bank that they planned to foreclose | 2.3 |
| Missed mortgage payments and thought that if you didn't move, the bank would foreclose on your home | 1.1 |
| The city condemned the property and forced you to leave | 0.0 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 73.
Question R5D. Please select all of the reasons that you moved to your current home in [year of last move]?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Rent increased at previous home or apartment | 16.0 |
| Landlord would not fix things at previous home or apartment | 9.2 |
| To save money | 22.5 |
| Better quality or larger home | 25.5 |
| Closer to work or school | 24.1 |
| Better quality neighborhood or schools | 11.1 |
| Relocated to a new city | 32.5 |
| Change in family status (e.g., marriage, divorce, children) | 15.1 |
| Other (please specify) | 16.6 |
| Refused | 1.4 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 605.
Question R6. When you rented your current home, were each of the following part of the rental application process?
| Response | Percent | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | No | Don't know | Refused | |
| Documentation of employment or income | 69.9 | 25.1 | 4.8 | 0.2 |
| Payment of a security deposit | 81.8 | 14.5 | 3.5 | 0.2 |
| Payment of an application fee | 52.4 | 41.8 | 5.4 | 0.4 |
| Request for references | 48.8 | 44.3 | 6.4 | 0.5 |
| Request to run a credit check | 54.4 | 35.6 | 9.4 | 0.6 |
| Request to run a criminal background check | 45.6 | 37.4 | 16.3 | 0.7 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 577.
Question R7. In the past 12 months, have you experienced any problems with your house or apartment that you felt needed to be fixed, such as a leak or a broken appliance?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Yes | 54.1 |
| No | 45.8 |
| Refused | 0.2 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 1,819.
Question R8. Did you contact your landlord about the problem with your house or apartment that needed to be fixed?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Yes | 90.7 |
| No | 8.9 |
| Refused | 0.4 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 974.
Question R8A. After you contacted your landlord about the problem with your house or apartment, how much difficulty did you have getting them to fix the problem?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Substantial difficulty | 14.9 |
| Moderate difficulty | 17.2 |
| A little difficulty | 21.8 |
| None | 46.2 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 887.
Question R8B. What is the main reason that you did not contact your landlord about the problem with your house or apartment that needed to be fixed?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Expected that they would not be willing to fix | 6.5 |
| The problem didn't bother me that much | 8.0 |
| It was easier for me to fix without their assistance | 43.2 |
| I did not want to cause trouble with the landlord | 16.7 |
| Other (please specify) | 24.7 |
| Refused | 0.9 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 83.
Question R9. Do you (and/or your spouse and/or your partner) expect to purchase a home in the next 5 years?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Definitely yes | 15.2 |
| Probably yes | 21.8 |
| Probably no | 17.1 |
| Definitely no | 23.2 |
| Don't know | 22.6 |
| Refused | 0.1 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 2,288.
Question R10. Are each of the following reasons that you expect to buy a home in the next 5 years?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Will have saved enough for a down payment | 74.6 |
| Will be more certain about job | 58.8 |
| Will be more certain about location or where to live | 73.5 |
| Will have a higher income | 68.3 |
| Change in family circumstances (e.g., marriage, divorce, children) | 38.3 |
| Other (please specify) | 5.0 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 741.
Question R3. About how much do you (and/or your spouse and/or your partner) pay for rent each month?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Mean (dollars) (>0) | 901.1 |
| Median (dollars) (>0) | 775.0 |
| Don't know (percent) | 6.7 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 1,792.
Question H0. Please select all the reasons below for why you own your home rather than rent.
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| It's cheaper to own than rent a home | 46.0 |
| Owning a home is a good financial investment | 71.8 |
| Certainty about monthly payments | 23.1 |
| Building equity with payments | 42.5 |
| Don't like to move | 27.1 |
| Less rules/able to customize house | 44.9 |
| Simply prefer to own | 69.3 |
| Other (please specify) | 4.2 |
| Refused | 0.1 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 4,293.
Question H6. Prior to purchasing your current home did you (or your spouse/or your partner) ever own another house?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Yes | 55.6 |
| No | 44.3 |
| Refused | 0.1 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 4,293.
Question H7. In addition to your mortgage, please select all the sources below that you used to fund the home purchase when you bought your current home:
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Proceeds from sale of previous home | 36.7 |
| Personal savings | 66.7 |
| Loan or gift from family/friends | 15.9 |
| Second mortgage | 4.1 |
| Financial assistance from a government program or nonprofit organization | 2.3 |
| None | 8.2 |
| Other (please specify) | 6.1 |
| Refused | 0.0 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 311.
Question M2. In the past 12 months, have you (or your spouse/or your partner) missed two or more payments on your mortgage?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Yes | 2.8 |
| No | 96.5 |
| Refused | 0.7 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 2,687.
Question M4. About how much is your total monthly mortgage payment (i.e., the amount you send to the bank)?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Mean (dollars) (>0) | 1,279.8 |
| Median (dollars) (>0) | 1,150.0 |
| Don't know (percent) | 8.0 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 2,625.
Question BK1. Do you (and/or your spouse and/or your partner) currently have a checking, savings, or money market account?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Yes | 92.7 |
| No | 6.7 |
| Refused | 0.6 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 6,610.
Question BK2. In the past 12 months, have you (and/or your spouse and/or your partner):
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Used a money order | 17.6 |
| Used a check-cashing service | 7.5 |
| Used a tax refund anticipation loan | 1.7 |
| Used a pawn shop loan, a payday loan, an auto title loan, or a paycheck advance/deposit advance | 4.2 |
| Sent money to a relative or friend (not a business) living outside of the U.S. using a service other than a bank (e.g., WesternUnion, USPS SureMoney, etc.) | 5.7 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 6,610.
Question BK5. Suppose that you were making a $10 purchase at a local store. How would you most commonly expect to pay for this purchase?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Cash | 36.8 |
| Check | 0.9 |
| Credit card | 24.3 |
| Debit card | 36.6 |
| Prepaid card | 0.6 |
| Money order | 0.1 |
| Mobile app | 0.1 |
| Other | 0.1 |
| Refused | 0.5 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 6,610.
Question A6. If you were to apply for a credit card today, how confident are you that your application would be approved?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Not confident | 15.4 |
| Somewhat confident | 19.6 |
| Very confident | 58.5 |
| Don't know | 6.3 |
| Refused | 0.2 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 6,610.
Question A0. In the last 12 months, have you (or your spouse/or your partner) applied for any credit (such as a credit card, higher credit card limit, mortgage, refinance, student loan, personal loan, or other loan)?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Yes | 39.8 |
| No | 59.7 |
| Refused | 0.5 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 6,610.
Question A0A. Please select all of the types of credit below that you (or your spouse/or your partner) have applied for in the past 12 months.
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Mortgage to buy a new home | 9.7 |
| Refinance of a home mortgage | 9.3 |
| Home-equity loan or line of credit | 6.1 |
| Credit card | 65.0 |
| Car/auto loan | 25.6 |
| Student loan | 8.7 |
| Personal general-purpose loan from a bank | 10.1 |
| Personal loan from friends or family | 2.9 |
| Other (please specify) | 4.5 |
| Refused | 0.6 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 2,496.
Question A0B. Was there a time in the past 12 months that you (or your spouse/or your partner) desired credit but chose not to submit a credit application?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Yes | 10.7 |
| No | 88.9 |
| Refused | 0.4 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 4,085.
Question A1. In the past 12 months, please tell us if each of the following has or has not happened to you (or your spouse/or your partner):
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| You (or your spouse or your partner) were turned down for credit | 22.7 |
| You (or your spouse/or your partner) were approved for credit, but were not given as much credit as you applied for | 16.1 |
| You(or your spouse/or your partner) put off applying for credit because you thought you might be turned down | 16.7 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 2,525.
Question A2. You indicated that you (or your spouse/or your partner) desired credit in the past 12 months but did not submit a credit application. Was this because you thought that you might be turned down or denied credit?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Yes | 60.4 |
| No | 39.4 |
| Refused | 0.2 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 419.
Question A3. In the past 12 months, which forms of credit that you applied for were you denied or offered less credit than requested:
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Mortgage to buy a new home | 5.5 |
| Refinance of a home mortgage | 2.9 |
| Home-equity loan or line of credit | 3.4 |
| Credit card | 69.7 |
| Car/auto loan | 11.8 |
| Student loan | 3.8 |
| Personal general-purpose loan from a bank | 8.1 |
| Personal loan from friends or family | 2.8 |
| Other | 2.7 |
| Refused | 2.8 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 783.
Question C1. If you had to guess, do you think your current credit score (such as a FICO score) is:
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Excellent | 33.9 |
| Very good | 21.6 |
| Good | 16.5 |
| Fair | 10.2 |
| Poor | 10.3 |
| Don't know my score or how to rate it | 7.2 |
| Refused | 0.3 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 6,610.
Question C2A. Do you have at least one credit card?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Yes | 79.3 |
| No | 20.4 |
| Refused | 0.3 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 6,610.
Question C3. Do you currently have any outstanding unpaid credit card debt?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Yes | 46.1 |
| No | 53.5 |
| Refused | 0.4 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 5,388.
Question C3A. Do you (and your spouse/and your partner) currently have more, less, or about the same amount of credit card debt than you had 12 months ago?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| More debt now | 30.6 |
| About the same | 39.1 |
| Less debt now | 29.7 |
| Refused | 0.6 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 2,548.
Question C3B. Twelve months ago, did you have any credit card debt that you have since paid off?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Yes | 19.4 |
| No | 80.2 |
| Refused | 0.4 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 2,841.
Question C4A. In the past 12 months, how frequently have you carried an unpaid balance on one or more of your credit cards?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Never carried an unpaid balance (always pay in full) | 45.4 |
| Once | 6.4 |
| Some of the time | 20.2 |
| Most or all of the time | 27.6 |
| Refused | 0.4 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 5,388.
Question C4B. In the past 12 months, how frequently have you paid only the minimum payment on one or more of your credit cards?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Never | 41.3 |
| Once | 8.1 |
| Some of the time | 32.4 |
| Most or all of the time | 17.4 |
| Refused | 0.8 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 2,896.
Question ED0. What is the highest level of school you have completed or the highest degree you have received?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Less than high school degree | 8.1 |
| High school degree or GED | 27.5 |
| Some college but no degree (including currently enrolled in college) | 19.2 |
| Certificate or technical degree | 5.5 |
| Associate degree | 8.1 |
| Bachelor's degree | 18.0 |
| Master's degree | 9.0 |
| Professional degree (e.g., MBA, MD, JD) | 2.8 |
| Doctoral degree | 2.1 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 6,610.
Question ED0A. Are you currently enrolled in any school, college, or other post-high school educational program that will lead to a degree?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Yes | 9.8 |
| No | 89.9 |
| Refused | 0.2 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 6,345.
Question ED0B. What type of degree program are you currently enrolled in?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Certificate or technical degree | 5.8 |
| Associate degree | 22.3 |
| Bachelor's degree | 47.2 |
| Master's degree | 15.2 |
| Professional degree (e.g., MBA, MD, JD) | 3.5 |
| Doctoral degree | 5.6 |
| Refused | 0.4 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 394.
Question ED0C. In the past 12 months, have you taken any classes toward a degree or completed any educational programs?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Yes | 5.0 |
| No | 94.7 |
| Refused | 0.3 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 1,863.
Question ED1. Which one of the following broad categories best describes your current/most recent educational program?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Humanities | 6.4 |
| Social/behavioral sciences | 8.0 |
| Life sciences | 3.2 |
| Physical sciences/math | 3.1 |
| Computer/information sciences | 9.0 |
| Engineering | 7.5 |
| Education | 9.5 |
| Business/management | 20.7 |
| Health | 10.9 |
| Law | 3.8 |
| Vocational/technical training | 6.8 |
| Undeclared | 6.2 |
| Other (please specify) | 3.6 |
| Refused | 1.3 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 4,542.
Question ED4. In what year did you last attend this educational program?
| Statistic | Year |
|---|---|
| Mean | 1996 |
| Median | 2000 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 1,385.
Question ED5. How would you say the lifetime financial benefits of your current/most recent educational program compare to its financial costs?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Financial benefits are much larger | 19.9 |
| Financial benefits are somewhat larger | 15.9 |
| About the same financial benefits and financial costs | 35.4 |
| Financial costs are somewhat larger | 11.6 |
| Financial costs are much larger | 14.0 |
| Refused | 3.3 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 1,690.
Question ED6. Knowing what you know now about the benefits and costs of your education, if you could go back and make your education decisions again would you have done each of these things:
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Chosen a different field of study | 34.9 |
| Attended a different school | 28.1 |
| Completed less education | 5.8 |
| Completed more education | 66.3 |
| Chosen not to attend college | 11.9 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 1,482.
Question ED9. In what year did you receive your most recent degree?
| Statistic | Year |
|---|---|
| Mean | 1996 |
| Median | 1998 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 2,779.
Question ED10. Overall, how would you say the lifetime financial benefits of your associate degree/bachelor's degree program compare to its financial costs?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Financial benefits are much larger | 38.1 |
| Financial benefits are somewhat larger | 25.5 |
| About the same financial benefits and financial costs | 20.3 |
| Financial costs are somewhat larger | 8.0 |
| Financial costs are much larger | 7.5 |
| Refused | 0.6 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 2,849.
Question ED11. Knowing what you know now about the benefits and costs of your education, if you could go back and make decisions regarding your most recent education program again, would you have done each of these things:
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Chosen a different field of study | 35.9 |
| Attended a different school | 21.6 |
| Completed less education | 5.1 |
| Completed more education | 38.3 |
| Chosen not to attend college | 3.7 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 2,849.
Question ED12. How important was the advice or opinion of each of the following types of people when you were deciding whether to attend college (and what school to attend)?
| Response | Percent | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Veryimpor-tant | Moder-ately impor-tant | Slightly impor-tant | Not impor-tant | No advice from person | Refused | |
| Parents | 45.2 | 21.2 | 13.0 | 7.8 | 12.0 | 0.8 |
| Siblings, aunts, uncles, or other relatives | 15.9 | 22.3 | 19.7 | 19.8 | 21.3 | 1.1 |
| Friends | 13.1 | 23.3 | 24.4 | 21.4 | 17.0 | 0.7 |
| High school teachers or counselors | 13.2 | 25.2 | 21.1 | 18.3 | 21.6 | 0.6 |
| Faculty or representatives of a college | 9.5 | 21.0 | 22.3 | 20.8 | 25.9 | 0.5 |
| Employer | 5.7 | 15.1 | 13.1 | 21.5 | 43.5 | 1.1 |
| Religious leader | 6.2 | 10.1 | 9.6 | 22.9 | 50.2 | 0.9 |
| Other (please specify) | 3.1 | 4.6 | 3.6 | 15.2 | 52.1 | 21.4 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 1,431.
Question ED13. Which of the following are reasons why you did not attend college?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Too expensive | 37.0 |
| Child care responsibilities | 12.4 |
| Supported or cared for parents or siblings | 5.2 |
| Needed to earn money | 37.0 |
| Wanted to work | 26.8 |
| Simply was not interested in college | 33.5 |
| Was not admitted | 1.0 |
| Did not think benefits of attending college were worth the cost | 18.7 |
| Other: | 14.6 |
| Refused | 1.4 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 169.
Question ED14. Which of the following are reasons why you did not complete your college degree?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Too expensive | 42.7 |
| Child care responsibilities | 14.5 |
| Supported or cared for parents or siblings | 3.5 |
| Needed to earn money | 36.1 |
| Wanted to work | 29.0 |
| Simply not interested in continuing in college | 22.2 |
| Did not think the benefits of continuing college were worth the cost | 18.8 |
| Low grades | 7.7 |
| Other | 11.6 |
| Refused | 1.1 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 246.
Question SL1. Do you currently have student loan debt or owe any money used to pay for your own education? Please include any loans on which you are a co-signer that were used to pay for your education beyond high school (including student loans, home-equity loans, or credit cards paid off over time).
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Yes | 16.6 |
| No | 83.0 |
| Refused | 0.4 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 6,610.
Question SL2. Think about the money you currently owe for your own education. Is the money you owe for that education a student loan, a home-equity loan, a credit card debt, or some other type of loan? If you have multiple loans, please select all that apply.
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Student loan | 93.7 |
| Home-equity loan | 5.0 |
| Credit card | 20.3 |
| Other loan (please specify) | 3.6 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 919.
Question SL3. Thinking specifically about the money that you owe for your own education, please tell us the total amount that you currently owe on each of these loans. If you don't know an exact amount, an estimate is fine.
| Response | Mean (dollars) (>0) | Median (dollars) (>0) |
|---|---|---|
| Student loan | 32,731.5 | 17,000 |
| Home-equity loan | 38,639.8 | 10,000 |
| Credit card | 6,813.5 | 2,500 |
| Other loan (please specify) | 52,885.1 | 6,000 |
| Total | 36,298.7 | 19,000 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 836 (a), 22 (b), 177 (c), 32 (d), and 861 (e).
Question SL4A. Does anyone else (such as a parent) help you pay these loans from your own education?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Yes | 19.2 |
| No | 80.8 |
| Refused | 0.0 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 919.
Question SL4. Approximately how much is the total monthly payment that you make on the loans from your education?
| Statistic | Dollars |
|---|---|
| Mean (>0) | 392.7 |
| Median (>0) | 222.0 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 602.
Question SL5. Is one or more of the loans from your own education in deferment, forbearance, or being forgiven so you do not need to make payments right now?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Yes | 38.3 |
| No | 60.8 |
| Refused | 0.9 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 919.
Question SL6. Are you behind on payments or in collections for one or more of the loans from your own education?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Yes | 18.5 |
| No | 80.7 |
| Refused | 0.8 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 919.
Question SL7. Did you borrow money or take out any loans to pay for your own education that you have since repaid?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Yes | 15.9 |
| No | 83.6 |
| Refused | 0.6 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 5,691.
Question SL8. Still thinking about the money you borrowed to pay for your own education, did you borrow money for each of the following educational programs (including any loans which you have completely repaid)?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Certificate or technical training | 17.2 |
| Associate degree | 22.3 |
| Bachelor's degree | 60.5 |
| Professional degree (e.g., MBA, MD, JD) | 10.5 |
| Master's degree or doctoral degree | 19.4 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 1,896.
Question SL9. Did you complete the most recent educational program for which you borrowed money?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Yes | 67.6 |
| No | 18.9 |
| Still enrolled in the program | 13.0 |
| Refused | 0.5 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 1,896.
Question SL10. Do you currently owe any money used to pay for your spouse's/partner's education? Please only include any loans on which you are a co-signer that were used to pay for their education beyond high school (including student loans, home-equity loans, or credit cards paid off over time).
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Yes | 6.3 |
| No | 93.2 |
| Refused | 0.5 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 3,979.
Question SL11. Do you currently owe any money used to pay for your child's or grandchild's education? Please only include any loans on which you are a co-signer that were used to pay for their education beyond high school (including student loans, home-equity loans, or credit cards paid off over time).
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Yes | 74.4 |
| No | 6.1 |
| Do not have children or grandchildren | 19.0 |
| Refused | 0.5 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 5,798.
Question SL12. Is the money you owe for your child's or grandchild's education a student loans, home-equity loan, credit card debt, or some other type of loan? If you have multiple loans, please select all that apply.
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Student loan | 86.6 |
| Home-equity loan | 13.2 |
| Credit card | 22.4 |
| Other loan (please specify) | 7.8 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 323.
Question K2. Do you currently have each of the following types of retirement savings or pension?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| 401(k), 403(b), Keogh, or other defined contribution plan through an employer or former employer (i.e., a retirement plan through work, where you contribute a percent of your salary each pay-period to invest for retirement) | 50.3 |
| Pension with a defined benefit through an employer or former employer (i.e., a pension that will pay you a fixed amount each year during retirement based on a formula, your earnings, and years of service) | 24.5 |
| IRA or Roth IRA | 30.6 |
| Savings outside a retirement account (e.g., a brokerage account, savings account, or stock holdings) | 45.8 |
| Ownership of real estate or land that you plan to sell or rent to generate income in retirement | 14.4 |
| Ownership of my business | 6.7 |
| Other retirement savings (please specify) | 3.7 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 4,508.
Question DC1. Does your employer offer a 401(k), 403(b), thrift, or other defined contribution retirement plan?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Yes | 32.8 |
| No | 48.0 |
| Don't know | 18.1 |
| Refused | 1.1 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 1,130.
Question DC3. If your employer did offer a 401(k), 403(b), thrift, or other defined contribution retirement plan, would you contribute to the plan?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Definitely no | 4.6 |
| Probably no | 11.0 |
| Probably yes | 38.2 |
| Definitely yes | 26.1 |
| Don't know | 20.1 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 771.
Question DC4. How comfortable are you with making your own investment decisions in your retirement accounts (including IRA, 401(k), 403(b), thrift, or other retirement accounts where you choose the investments for yourself)?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Very comfortable | 15.1 |
| Mostly comfortable | 31.8 |
| Slightly comfortable | 32.0 |
| Not comfortable | 21.0 |
| Refused | 0.0 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 2,965.
Question K5A. In the past 12 months, have you borrowed money from or cashed out (permanently withdrawn) money from any of your retirement savings accounts?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Yes, borrowed money | 4.5 |
| Yes, cashed out | 4.7 |
| Yes, both | 0.6 |
| No | 89.8 |
| Refused | 0.4 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 4,508.
Question K8A. You indicated previously that you are retired. At what age did you retire?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Mean (age) | 59.8 |
| Median (age) | 62 |
| Don't know (percent) | 9.8 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 2,093.
Question K9. How important were each of the following in your decision to retire at the age that you did?
| Response | Percent | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very important | Somewhat important | Not important | Refused | |
| Poor health | 16.6 | 13.2 | 68.2 | 2.0 |
| Wanted to do other things | 24.6 | 33.7 | 39.0 | 2.7 |
| Didn't like the work | 8.0 | 19.4 | 69.1 | 3.5 |
| Wanted to spend more time with family | 28.3 | 31.2 | 38.2 | 2.4 |
| Forced to retire or lack of available work | 13.4 | 10.2 | 73.8 | 2.6 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 2,102.
Question K10. Are each of the following sources of funds for you (and your spouse/and your partner) in retirement?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Social Security | 87.2 |
| I have a job | 10.0 |
| My spouse/partner has a job | 23.5 |
| Pension with a defined benefit from work (i.e., pension based on a formula, your earnings, and years of service) | 62.6 |
| 401(k), 403(b), Keogh, or other defined contribution plan from work (i.e., a retirement plan through work, where you contributed a percent of your salary each pay-period to invest for retirement) | 38.4 |
| IRA or Roth IRA | 42.5 |
| Savings outside a retirement account (e.g., a brokerage account, savings account) | 52.1 |
| Income from real estate or the sale of real estate | 13.1 |
| Income from a business or the sale of a business | 4.8 |
| Relying on children, grandchildren, or other family | 3.7 |
| Other retirement savings | 20.7 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 1,340 (c) and 2,102 (all other questions).
Question I0. In the past 12 months, did you (and/or your spouse/partner) receive any income from the following sources:
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Wages or salaries | 67.2 |
| Self-employment | 14.1 |
| Freelance work or hobbies (do not include income from GfK) | 12.9 |
| Interest, dividends, or rental income | 27.4 |
| Social Security | 25.7 |
| Supplemental Security (SSI) | 4.1 |
| Unemployment income | 3.3 |
| Pension income | 17.3 |
| Any other income | 11.0 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 6,610.
Question I0A. Did you (and/or your spouse/partner) receive any income from any source in the past 12 months?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Yes | 18.2 |
| No | 78.3 |
| Refused | 3.6 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 392.
Question I4A. Which of the following categories best describes the total income that you (and your spouse/and your partner) received from all sources, before taxes and deductions, in the past 12 months?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| $0 | 6.1 |
| $0 to $4,999 | 5.8 |
| $5,000 to $14,999 | 7.6 |
| $15,000 to $24,999 | 8.6 |
| $25,000 to $39,999 | 12.0 |
| $40,000 to $49,999 | 9.2 |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 15.8 |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 10.6 |
| $100,000 to $149,999 | 13.2 |
| $150,000 to $199,999 | 5.6 |
| $200,000 or higher | 4.7 |
| Refused | 0.8 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 6,610.
Question I1. In the past 12 months, would you say that your (and your spouse's/and your partner's) total spending was:
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| More than your income | 17.1 |
| The same as your income | 32.8 |
| Less than your income | 50.0 |
| Refused | 0.2 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 6,320.
Question I3. In the past 12 months, did you (and your spouse/and your partner) do each of the following to cover spending that exceeded your income?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Spend out of your savings | 59.9 |
| Borrow/take-on debt | 50.0 |
| Rely on family or friends | 40.5 |
| Other (please describe) | 2.8 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 1,093.
Question I9. In the past 12 months, which one of the following best describes how your (and your spouse's/and your partner's) income changes from month to month, if at all?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Roughly the same amount each month | 67.6 |
| Roughly the same most months, but some unusually high or low months during the year | 21.9 |
| Often varies quite a bit from one month to the next | 9.9 |
| Refused | 0.7 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 6,610.
Question I10. Please indicate whether each of the following is a reason that your (and your spouse's/and your partner's) income changed from month to month in the past year:
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Bonuses | 15.5 |
| Commissions | 6.7 |
| Seasonal employment | 13.1 |
| Irregular work schedule (i.e., your work hours change from week to week) | 43.0 |
| Periods of unemployment | 15.7 |
| Investment Income | 8.6 |
| Other (please specify) | 17.2 |
| Refused | 5.3 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 1,992.
Question I12. In the past 12 months, did you (and your spouse/and your partner) have any months where you struggled to pay your bills because your income was lower than normal?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Yes | 39.9 |
| No | 59.7 |
| Refused | 0.4 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 1,992.
Question OL1. In the past 12 months, have you purchased each of the following types of goods online:
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Groceries or personal care items | 30.8 |
| Clothing | 54.3 |
| Furniture or household goods | 25.6 |
| Electronics or appliances | 35.1 |
| Books, music, or DVDs | 43.6 |
| Travel-related items (plane tickets, hotel rooms) | 45.7 |
| Tickets to live events, like sporting events, concerts, or movies | 34.3 |
| Food delivery or carryout | 35.9 |
| Other (please describe) | 3.7 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 6,610.
Question OL2. For each type of good that you purchased online in the past 12 months, what was the primary reason that you made these purchases online rather than in a local store?
| Response | Percent | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Con-ven-ience | Better price | Better quality | Not avail-able in local stores | Other reason | Refused | |
| Groceries or personal care items | 48.3 | 29.2 | 2.4 | 12.5 | 5.5 | 2.1 |
| Clothing | 45.5 | 28.6 | 2.4 | 19.2 | 2.9 | 1.3 |
| Furniture or household goods | 40.7 | 39.7 | 2.9 | 12.3 | 3.0 | 1.3 |
| Electronics or appliances | 38.3 | 50.5 | 2.0 | 6.8 | 1.8 | 0.6 |
| Books, music, or DVDs | 48.7 | 34.9 | 1.5 | 12.0 | 2.3 | 0.7 |
| Travel-related items (plane tickets, hotel rooms) | 58.9 | 29.4 | 1.0 | 8.5 | 1.8 | 0.4 |
| Tickets to live events, like sporting events, concerts, or movies | 68.5 | 14.4 | 1.2 | 12.7 | 2.5 | 0.7 |
| Food delivery or carryout | 82.2 | 10.3 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 3.9 | 1.5 |
| Other (please describe) | 31.7 | 32.1 | 4.9 | 18.6 | 8.7 | 4.0 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 1,938 (a); 3,403 (b); 1,580 (c); 2,193 (d); 2,906 (e); 2,855 (f); 2,017 (g); 2,088 (h); and 218 (i).
Question OL3. In the past 12 months have you done each of the following:
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Bought used, secondhand, or handmade goods on websites like eBay, Craigslist, or Etsy? | 25.3 |
| Used a ride-hailing service like Uber or Lyft? | 16.0 |
| Stayed overnight in a private residence that you booked online using a service like Airbnb, VRBO, or HomeAway? | 8.6 |
| Hired someone online to do a task for you remotely through a service such as Mechanical Turk or Fiverr? | 1.4 |
| Hired someone online to do an in-person task such as child care or housecleaning through a service such as Handy, Care.com, or TaskRabbit? | 2.5 |
| Ordered delivery of prepared meals through services such as GrubHub, Caviar, Instacart, or UberEats? | 6.2 |
| Bought streaming online media or entertainment content, through services such as Netflix or Amazon Prime? | 35.8 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 6,610.
Question OL4. In the past 12 months, have you used the Internet to do each of the following, even if you did not make the purchase online?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Read product reviews or get product information | 70.7 |
| Compare prices and the availability of products, either across online sites or listed for sale in brick-and-mortar stores | 65.4 |
| Interacted with a customer service representative for a product you purchased | 30.7 |
| Taken a class or educational program | 13.8 |
| Made reservations online, such as at a restaurant, salon, or doctor's office (including both from the business directly or through sites such as OpenTable) | 29.6 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 6,610.
Question EF1. Have you set aside emergency or rainy day funds that would cover your expenses for 3 months in case of sickness, job loss, economic downturn, or other emergencies?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Yes | 48.3 |
| No | 51.3 |
| Refused | 0.4 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 6,610.
Question EF2. If you were to lose your main source of income (e.g., job, government benefits), could you cover your expenses for 3 months by borrowing money, using savings, selling assets, or borrowing from friends/family?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Yes | 42.5 |
| No | 56.7 |
| Refused | 0.7 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 3,303.
Question EF3. Suppose that you have an emergency expense that costs $400. Based on your current financial situation, how would you pay for this expense? If you would use more than one method to cover this expense, please select all that apply.
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Put it on my credit card and pay it off in full at the next statement | 38.8 |
| Put it on my credit card and pay it off over time | 20.0 |
| With the money currently in my checking/savings account or with cash | 41.8 |
| Using money from a bank loan or line of credit | 3.5 |
| By borrowing from a friend or family member | 12.7 |
| Using a payday loan, deposit advance, or overdraft | 2.0 |
| By selling something | 7.9 |
| I wouldn't be able to pay for the expense right now | 12.1 |
| Other (please specify) | 1.5 |
| Refused | 1.0 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 6,610.
Question EF5A. Do you expect to be able to pay all of your bills in full this month?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| I will be able to pay all of my bills in full | 75.9 |
| I cannot pay some bills or will only make a partial payment on some of them | 23.2 |
| Refused | 0.9 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 6,610.
Question EF5B. How would a $400 emergency expense that you had to pay impact your ability to pay your other bills this month?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| I would still be able to pay all of my other bills in full | 83.6 |
| I could not pay some other bills or would only make a partial payment on some of them | 15.7 |
| Refused | 0.6 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 5,051.
Question E1. During the past 12 months, was there a time when you needed any of the following, but didn't get it because you couldn't afford it?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Prescription medicine (including taking less medication than prescribed) | 10.9 |
| To see a doctor | 12.3 |
| Mental health care or counseling | 5.2 |
| Dental care (including skipping check-ups or routine cleaning) | 18.1 |
| To see a specialist (such as an OB/GYN, dermatologist, orthopedic surgeon, etc.) | 8.7 |
| Follow-up care (e.g., skipping physical therapy sessions recommended by a doctor ) | 6.8 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 6,609.
Question E2. During the past 12 months, have you had any unexpected major medical expenses that you had to pay out of pocket (that were not completely paid for by insurance)?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Yes | 23.5 |
| No | 75.7 |
| Refused | 0.8 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 6,610.
Question E2A. Approximately how much did you pay out of pocket for unexpected major medical expenses in the past 12 months?
| Statistic | Dollars |
|---|---|
| Mean (>0) | 2,519.3 |
| Median (>0) | 1,000.0 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 1,560.
Question E2B. Do you currently have an unpaid balance or owe any debt related to the unexpected major medical expenses that you had in the past 12 months?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Yes | 42.0 |
| No | 57.7 |
| Refused | 0.3 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 1,630.
Question E4. Are you CURRENTLY covered by any of the following types of health insurance or health coverage plans?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Insurance through a current or former employer or union (of yourself or a family member) | 60.8 |
| Insurance purchased directly from an insurance company (by yourself or a family member) | 11.8 |
| Medicare, for people 65 or older, or people with certain disabilities | 21.7 |
| Medicaid, Medical Assistance, or any kind of government-assistance plan for those with low incomes or disability | 11.8 |
| TRICARE or other military health care | 4.1 |
| VA (including those who have ever used or enrolled for VA health care) | 5.0 |
| Indian Health Service | 1.4 |
| Insurance purchased through a health insurance exchange | 4.2 |
| Any other type of health insurance or health coverage plan | 4.9 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 6,610.
Question E6. Do you currently have serious difficulty with any of the activities listed below due to a physical, mental, or emotional condition?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Hearing or serious difficulty seeing even with glasses (including being blind or deaf) | 6.7 |
| Concentrating, remembering, or making decisions | 8.1 |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 9.2 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 6,610.
Question E7. Do you currently have a health problem or disability which prevents you from working or which limits the kind or amount of work that you can do?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Yes | 12.5 |
| No | 87.0 |
| Refused | 0.6 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 5,977.
Question X2. Have you and your family living with you experienced each of the following events in the past 12 months?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| I lost a job | 6.6 |
| I had my work hours and/or pay reduced | 8.1 |
| My spouse/partner lost a job | 3.9 |
| My spouse/partner had their work hours and/or pay reduced | 5.2 |
| Told by landlord that I had to move out | 1.8 |
| Received a foreclosure or eviction notice | 1.8 |
| A business I owned had financial difficulty | 2.0 |
| I had a significant health problem | 11.6 |
| A family member had significant health problem | 12.5 |
| Divorce | 1.8 |
| Death of primary breadwinner | 1.2 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 6,610.
Question X3. How much financial strain did each of the events that you experienced cause for you and your family?
| Response | Percent | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| None | A little strain | Moderate strain | Sub-stantial strain | Refused | |
| I lost a job | 15.2 | 20.0 | 25.1 | 38.9 | 0.8 |
| I had my work hours and/or pay reduced | 8.5 | 30.3 | 32.5 | 28.6 | 0.1 |
| My spouse/partner lost a job | 13.4 | 25.6 | 26.0 | 35.0 | 0.0 |
| My spouse/partner had their work hours and/or pay reduced | 7.6 | 29.9 | 39.8 | 21.7 | 1.0 |
| Told by landlord that I had to move out | 18.8 | 14.3 | 27.6 | 38.9 | 0.3 |
| Received a foreclosure or eviction notice | 18.3 | 15.2 | 31.6 | 35.0 | 0.0 |
| A business I owned had financial difficulty | 17.8 | 21.1 | 27.4 | 33.7 | 0.0 |
| I had a significant health problem | 20.1 | 25.2 | 29.2 | 25.4 | 0.2 |
| A family member had significant health problem | 21.6 | 26.2 | 31.0 | 21.0 | 0.2 |
| Divorce | 20.8 | 19.5 | 26.2 | 32.9 | 0.6 |
| Death of primary breadwinner | 23.8 | 20.1 | 21.1 | 32.4 | 2.6 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 386 (a), 512 (b), 217 (c), 294 (d), 88 (e), 92 (f), 116 (g), 925 (h), 812 (i), 110 (j), and 63 (k).
Question CH1. When you were growing up (under age 17), how frequently did you worry about each of the following?
| Response | Percent | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Never worried | Rarely worried | Some-times worried | Regularly worried | Refused | |
| Your family's finances | 43.6 | 21.8 | 23.4 | 10.6 | 0.6 |
| Having enough food to eat | 65.6 | 17.4 | 11.6 | 4.9 | 0.5 |
| Crime and personal safety | 60.0 | 24.0 | 11.4 | 4.2 | 0.5 |
| Having a stable caregiver | 74.4 | 13.5 | 7.6 | 3.8 | 0.6 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 6,610.
Question CH2. What is the highest level of education that your mother completed?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Less than high school degree | 18.9 |
| High school degree or GED | 35.8 |
| Some college but no degree | 11.4 |
| Certificate or technical degree | 5.4 |
| Associate degree | 4.9 |
| Bachelor's degree | 11.5 |
| Graduate degree | 6.6 |
| Don't know | 5.3 |
| Refused | 0.2 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 6,610.
Question CH3. What is the highest level of education that your father completed?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Less than high school degree | 21.6 |
| High school degree or GED | 29.3 |
| Some college but no degree | 9.0 |
| Certificate or technical degree | 4.7 |
| Associate degree | 3.4 |
| Bachelor's degree | 11.9 |
| Graduate degree | 9.4 |
| Don't know | 9.7 |
| Refused | 0.9 |
Note: Number of unweighted respondents = 6,610.
Summary statistics for demographics
| Demographic characteristic | Weighted | Unweighted | Observations | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mean | Standard deviation | Mean | Standard deviation | ||
| Age | 47.4 | 17.2 | 52.7 | 16.7 | 6,610 |
| Male | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 6,610 |
| Female | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 6,610 |
| 18-29 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 6,610 |
| 30-44 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 6,610 |
| 45-59 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 6,610 |
| 60+ | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 6,610 |
| Less than high school | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 6,610 |
| High school degree | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 6,610 |
| Some college, certificate, or technical school | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 6,610 |
| Associate degree | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 6,610 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 6,610 |
| White, non-Hispanic | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 6,610 |
| Black, non-Hispanic | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 6,610 |
| Other, non-Hispanic | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 6,610 |
| Hispanic | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 6,610 |
| 2+ races, non-Hispanic | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 6,610 |
| Family income less than $40,000 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 6,539 |
| Family income $40,000-$100,000 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 6,539 |
| Family income greater than $100,000 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 6,539 |
| Household income less than $40,000 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 6,610 |
| Household income $40,000-$100,000 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 6,610 |
| Household income greater than $100,000 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 6,610 |
| Married | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 6,610 |
| Not married | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 6,610 |
| Northeast | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 6,610 |
| Midwest | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 6,610 |
| South | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 6,610 |
| West | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 6,610 |