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Mini Poll: Fiscally Fit?

Current Totals:

How would you describe the issue of household debt on things like credit cards, home mortgages, payday loans, and car loans?

A very serious national problem:
 53%
A somewhat serious national problem:
 41%
A not too serious national problem:
 4%
Not a serious national problem at all:
 2%

 

Do you believe that the problem of rising household debt is primarily a problem for lower income families, or is it also a problem for middle income families?

Problem for lower income families:
 4%
Problem also for middle class families:
 96%
Not a problem for either:
 0%

 

Thinking about your own household, to what extent are you worried about your ability to pay your bills this month?

Not worried at all:
 58%
Only a little worried:
 27%
More than a little worried:
 12%
Very worried:
 3%

 

Thinking about your own household again, to what extent are you worried about your ability to pay your bills eventually?

Not worried at all:
 47%
Only a little worried:
 34%
More than a little worried:
 15%
Very worried:
 3%

 

Do you feel like you are more in debt than most of your friends?

I am in more debt than most of my friends:
 16%
I am in less debt than most of my friends:
 55%
I have about the same debt as most of my friends:
 26%
I don't have any friends:
 3%

 

Have you ever stopped paying on a debt, had a car repossessed, had a house foreclosed, or sought bankruptcy protection?

Yes:
 13%
No:
 87%

 

Generally speaking, has your level of debt gone up, gone down, or stayed about the same over the past five years?

Gone up:
 27%
Gone down:
 35%
Stayed about the same:
 38%

 

Which of the following is the largest component of your debt?

Credit cards:
 11%
Car loans:
 4%
Mortgage:
 55%
Medical bills:
 2%
School loans:
 8%
Home equity loans:
 4%
Payday loans:
 0%
I am pretty much debt free:
 16%

 

Which of the following adjustments to your life would you be least willing to make to pay your debts?

Give up a dream job to take one that makes more money:
 16%
Give up a love match to marry money:
 32%
Quit school to go to work:
 2%
Move to a less expensive, less interesting city:
 18%
Adopt a budget that postpones fun until I am too old to enjoy anything:
 33%

 

For which of the following things would you be most willing to incur a large debt?

Remodeling my home:
 43%
My own education:
 10%
My kids' education:
 33%
My dream vacation or trip:
 11%
Getting elected to political office:
 3%

 

Do you think that young people today face tougher financial pressures than young people did in previous generations?

Yes:
 70%
No:
 30%

 

To what extent do you think people today associate being in debt with embarrassment or shame?

A lot:
 14%
Not very much:
 60%
Not at all:
 26%

 

What is the youngest age at which you think someone should have a credit card?

Ten or younger:
 1%
Between eleven and seventeen:
 5%
Between eighteen and twenty:
 41%
Twenty-one or over:
 53%

 

Which of the following is the largest amount of money you would loan a family member?

In the tens of dollars:
 10%
In the hundreds of dollars:
 30%
In the thousands of dollars:
 36%
In the ten thousands of dollars:
 14%
I would never loan money to a family member:
 10%

 

The State of Georgia currently has a law banning payday loan operations. Should the State of Missouri have a similar law?

Yes:
 78%
No:
 22%

 

Do you think that you are saving enough money for your retirement?

Yes:
 41%
No:
 59%

 

Which of the following sayings about money best captures your philosophy of life?

"Money is the root of all evil":
 6%
"Money talks":
 16%
"Money can't buy happiness":
 39%
"Time is money":
 15%
"It is just as easy to fall in love with a wealthy person as a poor one":
 7%
"Put your money where your mouth is":
 17%

 

Do you own your own home?

Yes:
 84%
No:
 16%

 

Note: Due to rounding, results for some questions may not total 100%.


368
Big Picture:
All made up
GO >>
Field Trip:
Mama said
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St. Louis Traffic:
The "check" is in
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Mini Poll:
Grandpa's Cough Syrup
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Podcast:
Coming up Rosa's
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About Mayor Slay:
Read about Mayor Francis G. Slay
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