A national survey commissioned by Cashback Loans and conducted by 3 Gem Research & Insights has found that 44% of U.S. adults report having no emergency savings at all. Among those who do save, 17% have less than $1,000 set aside, according to America's Emergency Savings Report 2026, which surveyed 3,000 U.S. adults between July 6 and August 10, 2026.
The report examines how prepared Americans are for unexpected expenses such as medical bills, car repairs, delayed paychecks, and broken appliances. It also explores how households are responding to rising living costs. The findings underscore a precarious financial reality for many families, with 37% of respondents reporting they borrowed money to cover essential living expenses during the previous 12 months.
When Americans need to borrow, they turn to a patchwork of sources. Among those who borrowed for essential expenses, relatives were the most common source at 42%, followed by credit cards at 35%, friends at 34%, and payday loans or cash advance services at 23%. Respondents could report more than one source, indicating that many rely on multiple avenues to make ends meet. The widespread use of payday loans and cash advances highlights the role of short-term financial solutions in bridging gaps, a service that lenders like Cashback Loans provide. Learn more at Cashback Loans.
The survey also reveals deep concerns about financial security. Sixty-nine percent of respondents said achieving financial security is harder today than it was five years ago, and 42% have reduced grocery spending because of inflation. Twenty-two percent do not expect to feel financially secure at all. When asked what annual household income would make them feel secure, the average response was $300,009, though answers ranged from $20,000-$50,000 to $900,001-$1,000,000. Thirty-five percent chose an income below $100,000, and 51% chose $200,000 or less, indicating a wide gap between perceived needs and actual earnings.
"These findings show that many households are working hard to stay on track while having very little cushion for the unexpected," said Eric Otten, Personal Finance Expert at Cashback Loans. "We hope this research gives consumers, journalists and policymakers a clearer picture of the pressure families are facing."
The report is descriptive rather than prescriptive, but it highlights general practices consistent with its findings: build savings gradually, know your essential monthly expenses, plan ahead for emergencies, compare borrowing options on total cost and repayment timing, and revisit your budget when costs change. The report is intended to serve as an annual benchmark for tracking changes in emergency savings, borrowing, and financial confidence over time.
For a visual summary of the report's key findings, see the accompanying infographic: America's Emergency Savings Report 2026 infographic.
Cashback Loans, founded in 2003, is a California direct lender providing short-term financial solutions to consumers throughout the state. The company has funded more than 4 million loans in California and conducts consumer research to better understand the financial challenges of the communities it serves.
