25% of Americans Are Worried About Their Finances for 2019 — Here’s Why

One in every four Americans says they are worried about their personal finances going into the New Year, according to a new GOBankingRates survey.

The survey asked more than 1,000 Americans to rank how worried they are about their finances on a scale of one to five, with one being not worried at all and five being very worried — and 14 percent rated their worry a five, with an additional 11 percent rating their worry a four. On the plus side, a third of respondents said they are not worried about their personal finances going into 2019. Keep reading to find out why Americans are worried about their finances.

More 45- to 54-year-olds rated their financial worries a five than any other age group, with 22 percent choosing this answer. Those aged 55-64 are also worried, with 21 percent choosing five on the scale of one to five.

The youngest and oldest generations are the least concerned about their finances. Forty-five percent of those aged 13-17 rated their worry a one, as did 42 percent of those aged 65 and older.

See: 15 Crazy Ways Money Problems Can Affect Your Health

Americans were asked what money worries they had going into 2019, and respondents could select from the following choices:

• Falling into debt (or accruing more debt)
• Not having enough money to get by
• Losing my job
• Losing my house, car or another major asset
• Losing money in the stock market
• Rising healthcare costs
• Having to pay more in taxes
• Other
• I am not worried about my finances in 2019

Thirty-five percent said they are worried about not having enough money to get by. This was the No. 1 fear across all ages, with the exception of those aged 55-64, who chose rising healthcare costs as their top fear. Women are more worried about not having enough money than men, with 41 percent of women choosing this answer versus 29 percent of men.

The fear of not having enough money to get by could be warranted, as the cost of living continues to rise across the U.S. A previous GOBankingRates study found that living costs have risen 14 percent over the past three years.

The best way to reduce your fear of not having enough money is to make more of it. Turn your spare time into extra cash by taking up a side hustle, such as selling your art online, becoming an Uber or Lyft driver, or baby-sitting or pet-sitting.

Debt is a major issue for many Americans, and nearly a quarter of those surveyed said they are worried about falling into debt or accruing more debt going into 2019.

Millennials are more worried about debt than other generations, with 32 percent of those aged 25-34 saying that this is a financial fear. Not surprisingly, only 8 percent of 13- to 17-year-olds said they are fearful of debt, as they are likely still financially dependent.

A previous GOBankingRates study found that the average American is a whopping $52,458 in debt, with most saying low income is the main reason they are struggling to stay financially afloat.

To overcome credit card and other debt, take ownership of your debt and your financial habits. “You got yourself into it; you’ll have to own it and downsize your lifestyle so you can pay down your debts,” said Andrew Meadows, senior vice president of human resources, brand and culture at Ubiquity Retirement + Savings.

Being realistic doesn’t mean you have to live like you’re broke, however. “Just because you’re in debt doesn’t mean you’re homeless or poor — it’s just a trick of budgeting,” said Meadows. Paying off debt is a numbers game, so start focusing your dollars on bringing down debts and getting the numbers working in your favor.

The No. 3 most popular money fear is rising healthcare costs: 22 percent of Americans said they are worried about increasing healthcare expenses going into 2019.

Generation X is most worried about healthcare costs, with 37 percent saying it’s a concern. Baby Boomers are also worried about the rising costs of healthcare, with 35 percent of those aged 55-64 choosing this as a concern. Younger generations are the least concerned about healthcare costs, and women are slightly more worried than men (25 percent versus 19 percent, respectively).

Related: 14 Ways to Survive Rising Healthcare Costs

Although healthcare can be a major expense, there are some hacks you can take advantage of to reduce your medical expenses. These include opting for generic prescriptions, only using in-network providers and asking for 90-day prescriptions, which are often cheaper than 30-day prescriptions.

Less than 20 percent of Americans said they are worried about having to pay more in taxes in 2019. Millennials are more worried about taxes than other age groups, with 25 percent of those aged 24-35 saying it’s a financial concern.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will change the way you file taxes next year, but it could actually save many Americans money. Under the new tax plan, tax rates are lowered and the standard deduction is increased. However, personal exemptions have been eliminated, as have several itemized deductions. In addition, the mortgage interest deduction limit has been lowered.

Although several itemized deductions have been eliminated, there are still 42 tax write-offs you might be able to take advantage of. Make sure you understand the new laws before filing, and when in doubt, work with an accountant to make sure your taxes are in order.

Most Americans feel secure about their jobs going into 2019. Generation X is most worried about job security, with 18 percent of those aged 45-54 saying it’s a financial concern. Those aged 65 and older are the least concerned, with only 5 percent stating that they are fearful of losing their job — likely because they are already retired.

As of October 2018, the unemployment rate hit its lowest point since 1969 thanks in part to a strong economy, which is good news for those who are working and want to stay employed or bounce back in the case of job loss.

My Story: I Lost My Job and It Was Exactly What I Needed to Fix My Finances

Although most Americans don’t fear job loss, it’s a fact that some careers are more secure than others. If you are concerned about losing your job, try to choose a career with high job security. According to a previous GOBankingRates study, these jobs include solar panel installers, wind turbine service technicians and home health aids.

The fear of losing a valuable asset such as a house or car isn’t a big one for most Americans, with only 9 percent saying this is a worry going into 2019.

Millennials are more worried about losing their assets than other age groups, with 14 percent of those aged 25-34 saying this is a financial concern. Those aged 65 and older are the least worried, with only 5 percent choosing this response.

You don’t have to fear having your home or car repossessed if you stay on top of your mortgage and auto loan payments. Prioritize making these payments over paying down other debts so you don’t run the risk of losing these major assets.

See: 9 Options for When You Can’t Afford Your Mortgage Anymore

Only 8 percent of those surveyed said they are fearful of losing money in the stock market going into 2019. Boomers are more concerned about their stock performance than other generations, with 16 percent of those aged 55-64 saying they are worried about losing money in stocks. Millennials are the least worried, with only 6 percent choosing this response.

Women are slightly less worried about losing money in the stock market than men, likely because they are less likely to invest in the stock market to begin with, according to a separate GOBankingRates survey.

You can avoid becoming a stress case every time markets dip by taking a long-term approach that gives gains and losses time to even out. You also can benefit from determining your risk tolerance — many 401k sign-up packets include a quiz that helps you assess your risk tolerance, said Meadows. Invest accordingly to hit the blend of risk and reward with which you’re comfortable.

Almost all of the major financial fears Americans have going into 2019 can be assuaged by having a healthy emergency fund. Fortunately, many Americans said it’s their New Year’s resolution to save more money, with 36 percent choosing this as a resolution for 2019. An additional 23 percent said they are resolving to pay off debt.

Saving more money doesn’t have to be a daunting resolution. Start small, tucking away even $20 at a time until you have a small buffer, then work up to having at least a month’s worth of your basic expenses tucked away. You can also use any “found money” — like bonuses, cash gifts or your tax refund — to build an emergency fund. Creating an emergency fund will help strengthen your savings habit, said Meadows.

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