A greater number of people reported not saving money in 2004 than in 2001. Only 41 percent save regularly. That's a foreboding number for a nation with 76 million people reaching retirement age over the next 25 years. |
Americans are keeping their families afloat by putting their greatest asset at risk. |
Stagnant wages and skyrocketing healthcare, education and housing costs, plus greater job instability has pushed America's families right to the limit, and they're borrowing on high-cost credit just to make ends meet. |
This is not just happening to the worst cases. This is becoming much more common and widespread and more of the ordinary face of older Americans than it was decades ago. |
This is the first generation to shoulder the costs of college primarily through interest-bearing loans rather than federal grants that don't have to be repaid. |
We never imagined we'd be peddling our wares for food money at the age of 30. |