> Does anyone really believe that a majority of Americans would crumble when faced with a $1K expense? Many people here in the EU believe so; this gets repeate

> Does anyone really believe that a majority of Americans would crumble when faced with a $1K expense? Many people here in the EU believe so; this gets repeated a lot when the US comes up. Americans, when visiting here, often ask if it is true you can have your granny put down in the Netherlands when you want to (no) and people ask Americans if they really die in the streets because they cannot even get 1000$ (forgetting that people on holiday here definitely spent more than 1000$ on leisure). We did a house swap with a young couple from Florida and they, when someone asked, indeed said they would be able to get 1000$ in an emergency, but 5k would be impossible, loan or otherwise. I would be able to come with 20 or so people who would give me 5k if I was in a bind, and I don't know many rich peeps: I am almost 50 and all my friends have had jobs for about 30 years in a western country which means 5k is not that much, especially for an emergency. I live in a village with 'poor farmers' but when someone has issues (usually divorce or death) the community manages to raise over 20k$ every time i have seen it with ease.