There are a good number of people which aren't fiscally responsible, only taking action when it reaches a level of crisis. BankRate.com did a survey a while ba

There are a good number of people which aren't fiscally responsible, only taking action when it reaches a level of crisis. BankRate.com did a survey a while back... http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-06-25/business/chi-28-of-americans-have-no-emergency-savings-20120625_1_emergency-savings-expenses-nest-egg http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-06-25/business/chi-2... ... that showed some interesting numbers in terms of emergency funds (28% having none, only about 25% having the recommended 6 months). Half of the respondents indicating their net worth had no change year over year? I can cite far too many anecdotes that could corroborate that, across the age spectrum. Personally I've stuck to the 50/30/20 rule of Needs/Wants/Savings for about 6 years. Now that's shifting more to 30/30/40 as my income has significantly increased while my "monthly nut" hasn't really budged. I have about 2 years of living expenses in my emergency fund, only because I watched my father go for 2 years and 3 months without work between 2003 and 2005.