Blogging for Change

Consumers remain committed to credit cards

by Jessica Horton on
1/4/2012
in Using Credit , Repaying Debt

According to the December poll hosted on the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) website, consumers remain very connected to their credit cards. When asked to rank their 2012 financial resolutions, only six percent of more than 2,300 respondents indicated that decreasing dependence on credit cards was their number one goal.

While that statistic could appear to be a warning sign of future trouble, it’s important to keep in mind that the use of credit is not the problem. It is the misuse of credit that leads to financial distress for many Americans.

Balancing the continuing reliance upon credit, an encouraging statistic from the poll is that the overwhelming majority, 62 percent, selected decreasing debt as their focus for 2012. If consumers are able to decrease their debt load, continuing to use credit responsibly will help them meet the goal of increasing their credit score, which was the top resolution chosen by 24 percent of respondents.

While decreasing debt is always a positive, consumers should not neglect savings, yet that is exactly what respondents appear to be doing. In fact, only eight percent of respondents ranked saving as their most important resolution. Without the security of a well-funded emergency savings account, consumers are living without a financial safety net, as unplanned expenses will occur, usually at the worst possible time.

The NFCC’s poll also revealed some interesting trending from 2010 when the identical question was posed. Showing the largest percentage difference between the years, the 2010 poll noted 69 percent of respondents were most interested in decreasing debt, compared with 62 percent in 2011.

The second largest year-over-year difference involved improving their credit score, with that category posting a six percent increase. In 2010, 18 percent of consumers chose increasing their credit score as their main goal, while in 2011, 24 percent selected that category as most important in the New Year. This increase indicates that consumers understand the relationship between the credit score and obtaining credit, confirming their interest in continuing to have access to credit.

While the survey reflects that consumers recognize the importance of achieving financial wellness, and acknowledge that paying down debt is necessary, the low priority placed on saving for the future is troublesome.

So as you begin the New Year, remember that a savings plan is essential to any good money management system. Savings can be your parachute when periodic living expenses or unexpected emergency expenses push you over the edge of your budget. Additionally, savings can help you reach your future financial goals.

The December poll question and answers are as follows:

My No. 1 financial New Year’s resolution for 2012 is to:

  • Decrease debt: 62 percent (December 2010 poll: 69 percent)
  • Increase savings: 8 percent (December 2010 poll: 7 percent)
  • Improve my credit score: 24 percent (December 2010 poll: 18 percent)
  • Decrease my dependence on credit cards: 6 percent (December 2010 poll: 7 percent)

The NFCC’s December Financial Literacy Opinion Index was conducted via the homepage of the NFCC website (DebtAdvice.org) from Dec. 1 to Dec. 31, 2011, and was answered by 2,319 individuals. Money Management International is a member of the NFCC.

The NFCC is the nation’s largest and longest serving national nonprofit credit counseling organization. NFCC Members annually help over three million consumers through close to 800 community-based offices nationwide.

Jessica Horton is a former copywriter and community manager at MMI.

Recommended Articles

Retired man and his dog
Take Control of Your Credit
Your credit is much too important to leave to chance. If you have questions about your credit report and credit score, consider scheduling a one-on-one credit report review.
Learn More
Learn more
  • Better Business Bureau A+ rating Better Business Bureau
    MMI is proud to have achieved an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), a nonprofit organization focused on promoting and improving marketplace trust. The BBB investigates charges of fraud against both consumers and businesses, sets standards for truthfulness in advertising, and evaluates the trustworthiness of businesses and charities, providing a score from A+ (highest) to F (lowest).
  • Financial Counseling Association of America Financial Counseling Association of America
    MMI is a proud member of the Financial Counseling Association of America (FCAA), a national association representing financial counseling companies that provide consumer credit counseling, housing counseling, student loan counseling, bankruptcy counseling, debt management, and various financial education services.
  • Trustpilot Trustpilot
    MMI is rated as “Excellent” (4.9/5) by reviewers on Trustpilot, a global, online consumer review platform dedicated to openness and transparency. Since 2007, Trustpilot has received over 116 million customer reviews for nearly 500,000 different websites and businesses. See what others are saying about the work we do.
  • Department of Housing and Urban Development - Equal Housing Opportunity Department of Housing and Urban Development
    MMI is certified by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to provide consumer housing counseling. The mission of HUD is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. HUD provides support services directly and through approved, local agencies like MMI.
  • Council on Accreditation Council On Accreditation
    MMI is proudly accredited by the Council on Accreditation (COA), an international, independent, nonprofit, human service accrediting organization. COA’s thorough, peer-reviewed accreditation process is designed to ensure that organizations like MMI are providing the highest standard of service and support for clients and employees alike.
  • National Foundation for Credit Counseling National Foundation for Credit Counseling
    MMI is a longstanding member of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling® (NFCC®), the nation’s largest nonprofit financial counseling organization. Founded in 1951, the NFCC’s mission is to promote financially responsible behavior and help member organizations like MMI deliver the highest-quality financial education and counseling services.