Saver Survey

Each year, America Saves (www.americasaves.org) conducts a survey or its program participants to determine the attitudes and behaviors of savers.  The most recent study reports that:

• People save mainly for their emergency fund, retirement, or repaying debt.
• People in formal savings programs, such as America Saves, report saving larger amounts.
• Married respondents saved much more than single respondents.
• Females and males have different saving purposes; females favored saving for an emergency fund, males favored retirement saving.
• Savers involved in America Saves are saving more, are more confident in their ability to manage their money, and are managing their debt better while feeling more optimistic about their financial situation.

The complete Savers Survey report is available here.

Teaching Suggestions

• Have students talk to others about their savings habits and goals.
• Have students prepare a graph to monitor their savings activities.

Discussion Questions 

1. What actions can help encourage a person to have more effective savings habits?
2. Why does being involved in an organized savings program result in more savings and better money management activities?