Americans are split pretty neatly into good savers and bad savers, according to a national survey released as part of America Saves Week.
The survey, conducted by Opinion Research Corp. International for the Consumer Federation of America and the American Savings Education Council, which is managed by the Employee Benefit Research Institute, polled more than 1,000 investors by phone in February.
About half of respondents reported good savings habits, the study found. Fifty-four percent said they had specific goals and 43% said they had a spending plan that included saving part of their money. Forty-one percent regularly transfer money from their checking accounts to savings accounts by automatic transfers, and 49% said they knew their net worth.
The survey found a similar divide in retirement saving habits. Fifty percent of workers said they were contributing to a retirement plan and 49% said they were saving enough to have a "desirable standard of living" when they retire.
