Polls

How have your holiday shopping habits changed since last year? Choose all that apply.

(November 2009 - January 2010)

• I created a budget and plan to stick to it.		7 responses
• I plan to spend less money on gifts this year than last year.		12 responses
• I won’t use credit cards if I don’t have the money to pay before interest is charged.		7 responses
• I plan to put everything on a credit card and pay after January.		0 responses
• I plan to use a store lay-away option.		1 responses
• I plan to purchase less expensive gifts.		11 responses
• I decided not to give gifts this year.		1 responses
• Gift giving is not a part of my holidays.		2 responses

Do you believe that keeping a spending diary would help you save?

(September 2009 - November 2009)

• Yes, it helps me keep track of where my money is really going each month/paycheck.		52 responses
• Yes – it keeps me on budget.		14 responses
• Yes – I think it would help, but I do not keep a spending diary.		81 responses
• No – I do not believe keeping a spending diary would help curb my spending.		6 responses
• No – It’s too much trouble to keep a spending diary.		10 responses
• No – I am on a budget and know where my money is going.		12 responses

Do you have an emergency fund?

Yes, I have enough money set aside to pay my bills for:

(August 2009 - September 2009)

• less than one month.		32 responses
• 1 to 2 months.		18 responses
• 3 to 4 months.		8 responses
• 5 to 6 months.		4 responses
• more than 6 months.		9 responses
• No, I do not have an emergency fund set up at this time.		51 responses

I’m feeling most stressed about:

(July 2009 - August 2009)

• Paying back school loans.		21 responses
• Finding a job.		41 responses
• Funding my retirement.		26 responses
• Paying my bills.		71 responses
• Juggling work and family responsibilities.		31 responses
• I’m Okay - I feel that I have things under control.		13 responses

Have you cut back on retirement savings during the market crunch?

(May 2009 - June 2009)

• Yes – I have cut back by less than 15%.		15 responses
• Yes –I have cut back by 15%.		2 responses
• Yes - I have cut back by more than 15%		18 responses
• No - I have kept the amount I am saving the same.		69 responses
• No - I have increased the amount I am saving.		22 responses
• I do not have a retirement savings account.		25 responses

Do you feel that your debt is manageable?

(March 2009 - April 2009)

• Yes, my debt is manageable		183 responses
• No, my debt is NOT manageable		106 responses
• I have no credit card debt		86 responses

Do you know your debt-to-income-ratio?

(March 2009 - April 2009)

• Yes		108 responses
• No		263 responses

Do you know how to calculate your debt-to-income-ratio?

(Chapter 4 of the Wi$eUp Curriculum provides information on how to calculate your debt-to-income-ratio. Registration for the Wi$eUp online course is free.)

(March 2009 - April 2009)

• yes		120 responses
• No		244 responses
•		0 responses

Have you recently (in the last 6 months) lost your job?

(January 2009 - March 2009)

• Yes		39 responses
• No		197 responses

Are you having trouble meeting monthly expenses?

(January 2009 - March 2009)

• Yes - it is hard to get by each month.		165 responses
• NO - I have money left over for savings.		76 responses

Which is the OFFICIAL site to help consumers obtain their free credit report?

(January 2009 - January 2009)

• www.annualcreditreports.com Wrong! Be careful about imposter websites!		34 responses
• www.annualcreditreport.com Correct! It is the OFFICIAL website authorized by the Federal government.		95 responses

Have you requested a free credit report in the last 12 months?

(January 2009 - January 2009)

• Yes		82 responses
• No		66 responses

Have you tapped into your savings or retirement account in the past few months to make ends meet?

(December 2008 - January 2009)

• Yes		122 responses
• No		130 responses

Given the current economic climate, do you plan on postponing a large monetary purchase?

(November 2008 - December 2008)

Given the current economic climate, will you start paying down your debt faster?

(November 2008 - December 2008)

• Yes		107 responses
• No		40 responses
• No - I am debt free		34 responses

Are you worried about funding your child's college education?

(August 2008 - October 2008)

• No, I have a plan in place.		8 responses
• Yes, I haven't planned that far ahead.		41 responses
• Yes. Even though I am saving, I feel it will not be enough.		26 responses
• This question is not applicable to me.		45 responses

Do you take advantage of the Employee Benefits offered through your employer?

(September 2008 - October 2008)

• I am Self Employed		11 responses
• Yes		53 responses
• No		4 responses
• Not Applicable		6 responses

Which of the following Employee Benefits are provided by your employer?

(August 2008 - September 2008)

• Health Insurance		59 responses
• Life Insurance		50 responses
• Retirement Plans		52 responses
• Matching funds for a retirement plan		41 responses
• Other Amenities		30 responses
• No Benefits		10 responses
• I am Unemployed		5 responses

Does your family have a written emergency preparedness plan in place?

(July 2008 - August 2008)

• Yes		42 responses
• No		330 responses

As gasoline prices soar, how are you cutting back? Please check all that apply:

(June 2008 - July 2008)

• Using mass transportation.		109 responses
• Using alternative transportation (bicycle, car pool, etc.)		72 responses
• Cutting back on eating out.		273 responses
• Minimize driving by planning/consolidating my errands around town.		321 responses
• Cutting back on entertainment.		206 responses
• Will not take a vacation this year.		125 responses
• Do not need to cut back.		19 responses
• Other		33 responses
• Looking for a part-time job		54 responses

Studies show that happiness is related to good money control. Which financial habits do you practice to control your money? Check all that apply.

(May 2008 - June 2008)

• Stick to a written budget to guide spending.		19 responses
• Keep written records of money spent.		22 responses
• Balance checkbooks at least once a month.		42 responses
• Pay bills before they are due to avoid late fees.		61 responses
• Track all credit card spending by writing it down.		12 responses

If your household will receive an economic stimulus payment, how do you plan to use most of your rebate?

(April 2008 - May 2008)

• Save or invest it		57 responses
• Pay down debt with it		77 responses
• Put it toward a down payment for a home		8 responses
• Spend it on home improvements		11 responses
• Put it toward buying a vehicle		3 responses
• Pay down college expenses		7 responses
• Use it for regular household expenses		16 responses
• Other		9 responses
• Undecided		9 responses

If you will be receiving a tax refund, will you:

(April 2008 - May 2008)

• Spend it!		52 responses
• Save it!		124 responses
• Pay off debt with it		235 responses

What is your most important savings goal for this year?

(February 2008 - March 2008)

• Save for retirement		164 responses
• Save for a down payment on a house		54 responses
• Save for another major purpose		125 responses
• I cannot save this year.		75 responses

Do you make regular deposits to an emergency fund to build up enough money to cover 3–6 months' living expenses?

(February 2008 - March 2008)

• Yes		138 responses
• No		281 responses

Do you "pay yourself first" by saving regularly every month?

(February 2008 - March 2008)

• Yes		237 responses
• No		179 responses

Do you have a savings account?

(February 2008 - March 2008)

• Yes		345 responses
• No		73 responses

Do you feel overwhelmed at the thought of organizing your financial records and emergency instructions?

(December 2007 - January 2008)

• Yes		74 responses
• No		42 responses
• Partially		48 responses
• NA — I've already done this.		8 responses

Do you have emergency instructions, such as emergency contacts, letters of instruction, and other vital information (about parents or children) in place in the case of a major emergency?

(December 2007 - January 2008)

• Yes		19 responses
• No		109 responses
• Partially		44 responses

Are your financial records (vital documents, account numbers, passwords, and personal identification numbers (PINs)) organized in one place where they can be easily reached?

(December 2007 - January 2008)

• Yes		43 responses
• No		63 responses
• Partially		66 responses

Pay for holiday gifts

(October 2007 - November 2007)

• I pay my holiday charge cards by April.		8 responses
• I pay all year for holiday charges.		1 responses
• I pay cash for all my holiday gifts.		16 responses
• I pay a combination of cash and credit for holiday gifts.		36 responses

Holiday Shopping

(October 2007 - November 2007)

• I shop for gifts on line.		3 responses
• I shop both online and at retail stores.		39 responses
• I shop locally to help our economy.		16 responses

Has your identity ever been stolen?

(June 2007 - September 2007)

• My Identity has never been stolen.		66 responses
• My Identity has been stolen once.		14 responses
• My Identity has been stolen more than once.		5 responses

What type of home mortgage do you have?

(March 2007 - May 2007)

• ARM: Adjustable Rate Mortgage: subject to interest rate changes; rates adjust at intervals determined by the lender, usually subject to a Cap.		10 responses
• Balloon Mortgage: typically offers low rates for an initial period of time (usually 5, 7, or 10) years; after which the balance is due or refinanced.		2 responses
• 30 Year Fixed Rate: mortgage payments that remain fix through the life of the loan.		28 responses
• 15 Year Fixed Rate: mortgage payments that remain fix through the life of the loan.		2 responses
• None — I am a renter		15 responses
• None — My mortgage is paid off		5 responses
• None — I never had a mortgage		3 responses

In 2007, I would like to learn more about:

(December 2006 - January 2007)

• Recognizing and avoiding phishing/email scams, investing cons, pyramid schemes, etc.		43 responses
• How to lower monthly shopping costs (e.g., for groceries and clothes)		107 responses
• How to talk to somebody else about fixing their financial problem		52 responses
• Financial programs targeted toward helping people of specific background (e.g., minorities, immigrants, and single parents)		87 responses
• The finances behind buying and maintaining a car		68 responses
• Filing for federal income tax in April 2007		10 responses

My greatest financial need is to:

(October 2006 - November 2006)

• improve my budgeting skills		62 responses
• reduce my debt		55 responses
• increase my savings		50 responses
• save more for my retirement		37 responses