American Consumer Credit Counseling’s Health and Wealth online poll found the bottom line trumps the waistline when it comes to choosing between health and wealth.
Boston, MA – February 4, 2014
Budget-conscious Americans say their financial health is more important than their physical fitness in 2014, according to the most recent online poll from American Consumer Credit Counseling. Nearly 59 percent of those surveyed said they are more concerned with their finances than their fitness, while 41 percent said fitness goals are most important to them in the New Year.
The Health and Wealth online poll at ConsumerCredit.com also found that among those surveyed who made resolutions for 2014, twice as many are resolving to improve their financial health as those resolving to improve their physical health. Still, an overwhelming 60 percent said their resolutions will focus on improving both health and wealth this coming year.
According to ACCC’s survey, younger respondents are much more willing to give up their health for wealth with 50 percent of 18 to 24 year-olds and 39 percent of 25 to 34 year-olds stating that they would choose a better financial future over their physical fitness. Furthermore, Credit.com reports that young consumers aged 18 to 24 spend nearly 30 percent of their monthly income on debt repayment alone, which is double the percentage spent in 1992.
“This underscores how focused Americans are on reducing debt and improving their financial well-being,” said Steve Trumble, president and CEO of American Consumer Credit Counseling. “It’s remarkable that debt and financial security are outpacing physical health among many Americans when it comes to their person priorities.”
Nearly 30 percent of the 243 consumers surveyed said they would trade their physical fitness for a better financial situation. Fewer than 4 percent said they would go into debt if it would make them more physically fit.
ACCC’s national web poll also found that, second to health and wealth, 23 percent of Americans made resolutions to improve their emotional and mental wellbeing and another 21 percent will focus on achieving their professional and career goals.
The survey also found that 89 percent of those with incomes greater than $100,000 were more likely to make resolutions that involved both physical fitness and financial health.
The Health and Wealth poll is the latest in a series of ACCC web surveys that began in 2012 that focus on a variety of financial education, budgeting, and planning topics. The infographics depicting the results can be found at /debt-resources-tools/infographics/.
ACCC is proud that budget-conscious consumers are resolving to reduce their debt load this year but also want to encourage all consumers to take pride in their health, eating healthy and working out doesn’t need to break the bank. To find out more about in season healthy produce and other ways to save when food shopping visit TalkingCentsBlog.com
American Consumer Credit Counseling’s certified and experienced counselors offer various financial education, counseling and debt management services to help consumers achieve long-term financial health and stability.
ACCC is a 501(c)3 organization, that provides free credit counseling, bankruptcy counseling, and housing counseling to consumers nationwide in need of financial literacy education and money management. For more information, contact ACCC:
- For credit counseling, call 800-769-3571
- For bankruptcy counseling. call 866-826-6924
- For housing counseling, call 866-826-7180
- Or visit us online at ConsumerCredit.com
About American Consumer Credit Counseling
American Consumer Credit Counseling (ACCC) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to empowering consumers to achieve financial health through education, counseling, and debt management. ACCC provides individuals with practical debt solutions for solving financial problems and recognizes that consumers’ financial difficulties are often not the result of poor spending habits, but more frequently from extenuating circumstances beyond their control. As one of the nation’s leading providers of financial education and credit counseling services, ACCC works with consumers to help them with the best plan of action to reduce their debt and regain financial stability. ACCC is accredited by the Better Business Bureau and holds an A+ rating. It is also a member of the Association of Independent Consumer Credit Counseling Agencies. For more information or to access free financial education resources log on to ConsumerCredit.com or visit TalkingCentsBlog.com.
