JEB! IS RIGHT; MOST AMERICANS CAN'T AFFORD A $500 CAR PAYMENT

In Saturday nights GOP debate Jeb! rightly pointed out that a large number of Americans can not afford a $500 car payment. He could have gone further and pointed out that after the 2008 economic collapse  when Wall Street under the leadership of a Republican president most Americans can't afford much more;


NEW YORK, Jan. 6, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Almost two in three Americans don't have enough savings to pay for a $500 car repair or a$1,000 emergency room bill, according to a new Bankrate.com (NYSE: RATE) report. Click here for more information:

http://www.bankrate.com/finance/consumer-index/money-pulse-1215.aspx

Only 37% of U.S. adults have enough savings to pay for these unexpected expenses. 23% would reduce their spending on other things to make ends meet, 15% would use credit cards and another 15% would borrow from family or friends.

Americans are most likely to part with restaurant meals when money gets tight: 58% are very or somewhat likely to cut back this year in order to save money. They would have a much harder time reducing their spending on alcohol (just 35% are very or somewhat likely to trim their spending in this area, the lowest of the five choices that were offered).

46% are very/somewhat likely to decrease their cable/satellite TV expenses, 41% plan to spend less on coffee and 39% are aiming for lower cell phone costs.

"More than four in 10 Americans either experienced a major unexpected expense over the past 12 months or had an immediate family member who did," according to Sheyna Steiner, Bankrate.com's senior investing analyst. "This proves that an emergency savings cushion is more than just a personal finance cliché, yet most Americans are ill-prepared for life's inevitable curveballs."

While savings predictably increase with income and education, even 46% of the highest-income households ($75,000+ per year) and 52% of college graduates lack enough savings to cover a $500 car repair or $1,000 emergency room visit.

63% of Americans Can't Afford $500 Car Repair or $1,000 Emergency Room... -- NEW YORK, Jan. 6, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --