NPR

Shutdown Highlights That Many Americans Don't Have Enough Saved For A Rainy Day

Here & Now's Jeremy Hobson talks with Jeanne Fisher, a financial planner, about how much people should be saving for emergencies.
In this Thursday, Nov. 27, 2014, file photo, a woman pays for merchandise at a Kohl's department store in Sherwood, Ark. (Danny Johnston/AP)

Federal workers affected by the partial government shutdown are set to miss a second paycheck this week, putting many in a precarious financial situation if they don’t have savings for a rainy day.

Almost 60 percent of Americans have less than, meaning an emergency expense would put many people in debt. That may seem like a large share of the population, but , a financial planner at ARGI Investment Services, says that number doesn’t surprise her at all.

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from NPR

NPR4 min read
What Are Sperm Whales Saying? Researchers Find A Complex 'Alphabet'
Researchers say sperm whales have a complex communication system, an example of how new technology is opening up the mysterious world of animal language.
NPR4 min read
Columbia And Emory Universities Change Commencement Plans After Weeks Of Turmoil
Columbia cancels its main ceremony, while Emory's events will now take place in the suburbs outside its Atlanta campus. The moves come after weeks of protests against the war in Gaza.
NPR3 min read
5 Workers Dead, Dozens Still Missing After A Building Collapsed In South Africa
Rescue teams worked searching for dozens of construction workers buried under the rubble after a multi-story apartment complex that was being built collapsed in a coastal city in South Africa.

Related