(Investopedia) - Americans are more confident in their money and are betting on financial plans in 2024, according to research by a major financial services corporation.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Inflation squeezed household budgets in 2023, pushing 35% of respondents to a survey conducted by Fidelity Investments to report they are in worse financial shape than they were this time last year.
- Most respondents said they expected to have a better financial year in 2024 and have a plan to do so.
- Saving money, paying down debt and spending less were priorities for respondents.
Americans are more confident in their money and are betting on financial plans in 2024, according to research by a major financial services corporation.
Fidelity Investments’ 2024 New Year’s Financial Resolutions study found inflation remains a major concern—one-third of respondents said it had significantly affected their daily cash flow and spending.1 More than a third believe they are in worse financial shape than last year, about the same as the amount last year.
However, two out of three respondents believe they will have a better year overall in 2024 than they did in 2023. About 70% of Americans say they have a path to reach their financial goals and bolster themselves monetarily in the coming year. Some 83% of women believe having a plan in place will better equip them to handle the unexpected, while 78% of men agree.
“With the number of Americans tapping into their emergency savings after a year of financial stressors and setbacks, it’s not surprising to see them look forward to new, brighter chapters in 2024,” Fidelity senior vice president of emerging customers, Kelly Lannan, said in a statement.2 “Encouragingly, it’s great to see so many taking a practical and confident outlook for the year ahead while they navigate choppy financial waters and fine-tune their financial wellness habits and savings goals.”
Consistent with past surveys, the top financial resolutions for 2024 are:
- Saving money (41%)
- Paying down debt (38%)
- Spending less money (30%)
More Americans seek to prioritize long-term savings goals than last year (52% versus 48%), with short-term savings prioritized by 47% of respondents versus 53% last year.
