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Paying for the Unexpected: Making the Case for a New Generation of Strategies to Boost Emergency Savings, Affording Contingencies, and Liquid Resources for Low-Income Families

In: A Fragile Balance

Author

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  • J. Michael Collins

Abstract

Low-income households’ accumulation of liquid savings is an important and growing issue, and one that has not yet attracted significant attention in the United States. Financial advisors commonly recommend that people have three to six months of income as liquid savings, stored as cash, demand deposits, or other funds that can be accessed within a few days. This rule of thumb is based at least in part on the fact that it could take three to six months to find a new job in case of unemployment, and liquid funds can provide an emergency safety net for this period (Chang, Hanna, and Fan 1997). However, for lower-income families, a three-month savings cushion is difficult to accumulate. As these households face lower incomes and higher relative costs for housing, transportation, food, and other essentials, just making ends meet is a challenge.

Suggested Citation

  • J. Michael Collins, 2015. "Paying for the Unexpected: Making the Case for a New Generation of Strategies to Boost Emergency Savings, Affording Contingencies, and Liquid Resources for Low-Income Families," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: J. Michael Collins (ed.), A Fragile Balance, chapter 0, pages 1-15, Palgrave Macmillan.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:palchp:978-1-137-48237-2_1
    DOI: 10.1057/9781137482372_1
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    Cited by:

    1. Ndlovu, Godfrey & Toerien, Francois, 2020. "The distributional impact of access to finance on poverty: evidence from selected countries in Sub-Saharan Africa," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 52(C).
    2. Dee Warmath & Genevieve E. O'Connor & Casey Newmeyer & Nancy Wong, 2022. "Have I saved enough to social distance? The role of household financial preparedness in public health response," Journal of Consumer Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 56(1), pages 319-338, March.
    3. Daniela Fernanda Diaz & Sonia Di Giannatale & Irvin Rojas, 2023. "Financial Vulnerability and Financial Instruments: Evidence from Mexico," Sobre México. Revista de Economía, Sobre México. Temas en economía, vol. 1(8), pages 94-134.
    4. Stacy, Christina Plerhoples & Theodos, Brett & Bai, Bing, 2018. "How to prevent mortgage default without skin in the game: Evidence from an integrated homeownership support nonprofit," Journal of Housing Economics, Elsevier, vol. 39(C), pages 17-24.
    5. Catarina Midões & Mateo Seré, 2022. "Living with Reduced Income: An Analysis of Household Financial Vulnerability Under COVID-19," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 161(1), pages 125-149, May.

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