New Money

If You Don't Have an Emergency Fund, You're in the Minority

By Katy Marquardt

Posted: December 3, 2008

According to a just-released study from Principal Financial Group, 56 percent of workers and 69 percent of retirees have an emergency fund. That's up from 50 percent and 67 percent last quarter, respectively.

Nearly a third of those workers say their rainy-day stash could cover more than six months of living expenses, should they get laid off or hit with a big, unexpected expense. Retirees are even more responsible: 52 percent say they've saved up six months of expenses.

If you haven't started saving yet, check out this nifty emergency-fund calculator (courtesy of blogger Money Under 30). Also, see my post on Emergency Funds 101.

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New Money

Katy Marquardt, a senior editor at U.S.News & World Report, takes a contemporary look at happenings in the financial world and aims to help young investors get going with their portfolios--or just sound cool at cocktail parties. Have a question? E-mail Katy at newmoney@usnews.com

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