A majority of Americans admit to growing financial stress

Americans express sagging confidence this decade in their ability to make ends meet, even as they make progress in financial planning and budgeting, according to new research.

In a more encouraging sign, though, fewer homeowners are experiencing mortgage-related stress compared to five years ago, the study from personal finance media company Ramsey Solutions said. 

In the first quarter of 2026, 34% of consumers labeled their financial situation as either "struggling" or "in crisis." The share increased from 22% in 2021, the year Ramsey Solutions  began tracking U.S. financial sentiment. The company was founded by author and financial advisor Dave Ramsey and has surveyed over 19,000 American consumers for its quarterly studies since launch.  

Rising pessimism struck nearly every demographic, with the most significant growth hitting women, whose share grew to 42% from 26% in first-quarter 2021. Generation X saw a similar increase to 41% from 27%.  

"The numbers are sobering. More Americans are living paycheck to paycheck and struggling to cover basic bills than when we started tracking this," George Kamel, personal finance expert and co-host of "The Ramsey Show," said in a press release. 

Married couples held up better than singles, the report found. Over the five-year period, the share that admitted to struggling financially rose only one percentage point to 22% from 21%. On the other hand, single Americans saw downbeat sentiment spike to 45% from 30% in first quarter 2021. 

On a positive note, more homeowners are comfortable keeping up with mortgage payments compared to 2021. The share struggling with mortgage stress declined to 38% to start 2026 compared to 43% five years prior.

Signs of distress rise

Still, overall findings from the Ramsey survey point to likely struggles for the consumer segment, with a majority of Americans admitting they were concerned about their financial situation. At the same time consumer sentiment weakens, the mortgage industry is seeing corresponding upticks in delinquencies, particularly in some loan types, over the past several months. 

• 54% of Americans say they live paycheck to paycheck this year, increasing from 42% in first quarter 2021 
• 54% indicate they can't get ahead financially, rising from 44%
• 53% report they worry about money on a daily basis, compared to 44% in 2021
• Just under half, or 48%, struggle with monthly bills, up from 36% five years ago
• 36% say providing food is a challenge, rising from 30% in 2021
• 26% consider themselves better off compared to a year ago, with the share falling from 30% in 2021

Younger consumers fuel change in financial habits

Showing growing conscientiousness, more Americans are changing habits in the face of personal finance concerns, the Ramsey report suggested.  

Forty-seven percent of Americans now say they create a monthly budget in 2026. The number increased from 39% five years earlier. The most pronounced surge in budgeting showed up in Generation Z, with 53% in the habit today compared to 38% in 2021. 

Gen Z was also more likely to  cut back on credit card use, with only 20% saying they were relying on plastic today, down from 27%. Credit card usage across all demographics edged down to 39% from 42% when Ramsey Solutions introduced the survey. 

A clear majority also believe current financial woes are temporary. Seventy-four percent anticipate they will be better off in 2031. 

"Americans aren't giving up — they're adapting," Kamel said.