Fifty-seven percent of Americans are reporting they plan to reduce their debt in 2012, and 50 percent plan to save more, according to the New York Life Kitchen Table Pulse, a new survey of more than 1,000 adults aged 30 and older sponsored by New York Life.
Even with these important steps toward more personal financial responsibility, the survey revealed Americans’ continued concerns around their financial future. In the year ahead, only 30 percent agree that their family will be more financially secure and better prepared for the unexpected, and just 24 percent believe that they will be in better financial shape for retirement.
Some interesting findings from the survey include:
- Those most likely to say that they will reduce their debt in 2012 include those aged 45-59 (65 percent), men (61 percent), married adults (61 percent) and full-time workers (60 percent).
- Adults ages 30-59 are more likely to intend to save more next year than are those who are older (55 percent vs. 37 percent).
- Only 14 percent of Americans report they plan to seek professional help managing their finances in 2012.