Planned behavior with saving and borrowing intentions - how do consumers make ends meet?

The ability to make ends meet has long been a critical issue tied to individuals’ financial well-being. This study proposes and analyzes a structural model to explain the antecedents of making ends meet behavior, grounded in the Theory of Planned Behavior. Data were collected through a survey of bank customers from a large Swedish retail bank (N=14,617). Structural equation modeling results reveal that social learning, financial confidence, and risk attitude collectively shape behavioral intentions to save and borrow. Saving intention positively contributes to the ability to make ends meet, while borrowing intentions decreases this likelihood. Additionally, the study finds that financial information received through social surroundings differently affects saving intention and borrowing intention. To account for demographic and socioeconomic factors, group analysis was conducted across gender and income groups to evaluate the model’s applicability. The results show that the proposed antecedents significantly influence making ends meet behavior across these groups, although the magnitude of effects varies. These findings offer valuable insights for public policy and financial institutions, highlighting the behavioral determinants that can enhance individuals’ ability to achieve financial stability.