Oregonians Must Work 16 Days a Month to Meet Basic Household Expenses

Oregonians have to work an average of 16 days a month just to meet basic household bills, illustrating that it is not luxuries weighing down families, but basic expenses to keep households running.

The Cost of Food, Utilities, and Housing is the Most Burdensome

The three items most burdensome to households are food (56%), utilities (17%), and rent/housing (15%), according to respondents in a survey conducted by Advance America, a leading loan provider that interviewed 3,002 families.

Take-Home Pay Does Not Cover the Cost of Living

Responses to carefully structured questions clarified a growing trend nationwide – salaries cannot keep pace with the cost of living. Families have to sacrifice small pleasures to keep a roof over their heads, food on the table, and electricity with which to run their households.

Americans Fear Losing Their Jobs to AI

Adding to this bleak backdrop is a growing concern that AI will replace them in their jobs.

When Oregon families were asked what they would cut first to stretch $1,000 further, 47% said restaurants and takeouts.

This was followed by entertainment, streaming subscriptions (26%), driving/travel (15%), grocery food choices (8%), and utilities such as heating, cooling, and electricity (4%).

According to Advance America, Oregonians are split between resilience and reliance. When asked how they would raise $1,000 in an emergency, 51% of the respondents were resilient in their replies, saying they would use existing savings. The rest revealed their reliance – 19% will resort to borrowing from family and friends, 17% will use credit cards or loans, while 13% will work more than one job.

A $1,000 Windfall Would Be Life-Changing for 25% of Oregonians

When asked how a windfall of $1,000 would affect their lives, nearly a quarter said it would be life-changing.

However, most respondents (41%) said that while the extra cash would be helpful, the windfall would not last long. A further 29% said it would be helpful, with 7% saying it would barely make a difference.

Although Oregonians have to work for 16 days in a month to cover their household expenses, the hardest-hit state in the country is Alabama, where residents must work 26 days to meet their bills. Colorado is at the other end of the scale, with residents averaging only 10 days to cover household costs.

The five U.S. states working the most number of days in a month to cover household overheads are Alabama (26 days), Rhode Island and Mississippi (24 days), Michigan (23 days), and South Carolina (22 days).

The results of the survey clarify that Americans in all states are finding essentials like groceries and energy the biggest budget gobblers. According to Advance America’s Marketing vice-president, Laura McCutcheon, the burdensome household expenses included the cost of childcare, healthcare, internet, mobile phones, and transportation.