According to the Commerce Department’s latest reports, Americans’ personal savings rate (as a percentage of disposable income) fell to 4.6% in June, compared with 6.2% in May. And the May savings rate was revised lower from 6.9% originally.
Have we gone back to our old habits? Money.com reported this information and it seems as though two months ago the savings rate peaked and had been declining ever since. Several months ago saving and frugality became the new chic thing to do like a fad diet. Instead frugality, saving and living within your means should be viewed as a lifestyle. The numbers only decreased for one month and still the savings rate is in positive instead of negative territory for the past year.
If people feel more confident about spending money while including saving as part of the equation that works out well.
Newsweek proclaimed that the Great Recession is over, but we haven’t felt the effects yet. That’s almost like the beginning of the recession, when people didn’t feel the signs of a recession it made no difference. As the economy worsened, the changes became more noticeable – stores closing, job losses, and difficulty getting credit was some of the signs. Improvement is happening, but not for everyone. People looking at their 401(k) statements can see that there are some improvements in the stock market, though people trying to get a loan may find that difficult.
Saving is only one part of the equation. If Americans had a high rate of savings, it might balance out the rate of consumption. Since the savings rate had been in negative territory for years (not including retirement savings) a savings rate in positive territory, even if it is trying to find its level is good.
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sadly i think people have got so used to spend spend spending that anything like saving or being frugal will only ever be seen as a temporary fad as you say.
Not me though frugal by nature and happy to be so.
I agree with you Kate! Being frugal is part of my nature. This doesn’t mean that I like everything cheap. I like paying low prices, but I like quality too. I am entralled with not having cc bills I can’t pay or excessive debt and living within my means. (That was taught to be by example by my grandparents and parents – and I”m grateful.) Sadly, when the economy improves, many who jumped on the frugality bandwagon will forget.