Some families seem to be living a nightmare instead of the American dream.
Around 61% of U.S. consumers were living paycheck to paycheck as of July, according to research by LendingClub and PYMNTS. Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve showed in its most recent Survey of Consumer Finances that the median net worth of an American family was just $121,700.
Don’t miss
-
‘It makes an enormous difference’: Warren Buffett says this simple ‘trick’ is the key to earning a generous retirement nest egg
-
Super-rich Americans are snatching up prime real estate abroad as US housing slumps — but here’s a sharp way to invest without having to move overseas
-
Are you ready for your first year of retirement? Here are 4 things you might not expect — but definitely need to prepare for
These statistics highlight how much the typical American family is struggling to build wealth. There are several potential reasons for this, including from inflation to pay stagnation, that are beyond the control of the average income earner.
But Warren Buffett believes there are some avoidable financial mistakes that could be holding many people back. Here are three he’s mentioned over the years.
Zero-Balance Mentality
Buffett seems to enjoy living well below his means despite his massive fortune.
Unfortunately, some people operate under a zero-balance mentality. A person might believe they can get away with spending $1,000 a week if they earn $1,000 that week. In reality, they can actually only afford to spend less than $1,000 if they account for unexpected expenses and the need to save.
This may be one of the reasons why the personal savings rate in the U.S. is below pre-pandemic levels at 3.5% of disposable income as of July, according to the Federal Reserve bank of St. Louis.
Read more: Warren Buffett gets gloomy: America’s ‘incredible period’ is coming to an end. Here’s what nervous investors can do right now
Buy Now, Pay Later
Buffett has never been a fan of leverage, which is the use of borrowed funds to raise one’s trading position.
“If you don’t have leverage, you don’t get in trouble. That’s the only way a smart person can go broke, basically,” he told the U.S. government in 2010 as part of an investigation into the 2007-2008 financial crisis.
Accordingly, Berkshire Hathaway has a debt-to-equity ratio of just 0.25. But the average American seems unable to manage the same level of risk: U.S. household debt accounted for 64.8% of GDP, according to CEIC Data, as of June.
Americans, especially younger consumers, are getting acquainted with buy now, pay later (BNPL services. These services allow consumers to acquire items they can’t afford by paying in installments In fact, 57% of respondents to a survey published by FinMasters said they regretted using BNPL services after a purchase, highlighting the issue.
Debt in all forms, from excessive mortgages to BNPL schemes, create barriers to wealth accumulation for the average person.
Keeping Up With Your Neighbors
To many, the grass can seem greener on the other side of the fence, and this type of thinking can drive some to overspend in order to keep up appearances with their neighbors. According to Buffett, this is also the cause of risky financial behavior and bubbles in the economy.
“People start being interested in something because it’s going up, not because they understand it or anything else,” he told CNBC during an interview in 2018. “But the guy next door, who they know is dumber than they are, is getting rich and they aren’t.”
Envy shouldn’t drive financial decisions. Avoid this mistake if you’re trying to build long-term prosperity. After all, Buffett himself still lives in the same house he purchased for $31,500 in 1958.
What to read next
This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
