The National Endowment for Financial Education® (NEFE®) has released new nationwide polling data highlighting how U.S. adults feel about their finances at the start of 2026.
The findings show that financial stress continues to affect a large majority of Americans, many of whom are still dealing with setbacks from the previous year.
According to the poll, 88% of respondents reported experiencing some form of financial stress as they enter 2026.
Additionally, 77% reported a financial setback in 2025.
NEFE noted that both figures are among the highest percentages recorded across several years of its financial well-being polling.
“For nearly a decade, NEFE’s nationwide polling has explored the financial well-being of Americans by asking how people are managing financial situations and outcomes,” says Billy Hensley, Ph.D., president and CEO of NEFE. “As we enter 2026, Americans are facing ongoing challenges and reporting some of the highest levels of financial concern we’ve seen in quite some time.”
About the Polling Data
The survey, conducted by NEFE in conjunction with Verasight, asked U.S. adults about their financial situation at the end of 2025 and their expectations for 2026.
The questions were based on similar surveys NEFE has conducted in previous years, allowing comparisons across different economic, social, and political landscapes.
Financial Goals for the New Year
As respondents look ahead to 2026, many are prioritizing changes to improve their financial situation. The most commonly selected financial New Year’s resolutions are “paying down any type of debt” (42%), “setting and following a budget” (39%), and “checking and improving credit score” (36%).
These goals closely align with what respondents expect to be their largest expenses in the coming year. Excluding mortgage and rent, the most anticipated expenses for 2026 are “paying down debt” (40%), “home-related expenses” (36%), and “transportation expenses” (32%).
Financial Setbacks Faced in 2025
The poll also asked respondents to reflect on the major expenses or unexpected financial setbacks they encountered in 2025. The most frequently reported challenges include “unexpected transportation expenses” (25%) and “unexpected home repairs or maintenance” (24%).
Other setbacks cited by respondents include “falling behind on bill payments/debt obligations” (22%), “medical expenses due to injury or illness” (21%), and “job loss or significant reduction in income” (20%).
Preparedness for Unexpected Expenses
Confidence in handling financial emergencies remains mixed. When asked whether they could manage an unexpected $2,000 expense, 36% of respondents said they are “certain they could,” while 19% said they “probably could.” In contrast, 13% said they “probably could not,” and 26% reported they are “certain they could not.”
If faced with an unexpected expense, respondents said they would most often rely on “credit cards” (35%), followed by “emergency savings” (25%) or “cash” (24%). Other strategies included “borrowing money from family or friends” (20%), “selling something they own” (18%), and “using a ‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ offer to free up funds” (17%).
How Americans View Their Financial Lives
When asked to assess the quality of their current financial life, 41% of respondents said it is “about what they expected.” Another 38% described it as “worse than they expected,” while 16% said it is “better than they expected.”
The survey also examined how often respondents end the month with extra money. Twenty percent reported having a month-end surplus “every month,” while 19% said this happens “most months.” Others said they have extra funds “only some months” (22%), “rarely” (24%), or “never” (14%).
The Role of Financial Education
NEFE noted that additional survey questions and detailed breakdowns of responses by age, gender, socioeconomic status, and other segmentations are available separately.
Reflecting on the results, Hensley pointed to education as part of a broader effort to address financial challenges. “While these findings are startling, there is growing momentum to address these challenges through youth financial education graduation requirements,” Hensley continues.
“Many of the issues highlighted in this poll are already among the core topics states are considering for their curricula. Financial topics and the choices surrounding them shouldn’t be a mystery. By normalizing conversations about money and strengthening young people’s confidence, we increase the likelihood that they can align their financial lives with their personal values and decisions. Although financial education is only part of the solution, it is proven to increase knowledge, build confidence and support informed decision making.”
