Rent is due. The electric bill sits on the counter. The grocery receipt from last week still stings. For half of Americans, keeping up with basic monthly bills has become nearly impossible.
A nationwide survey of 5,000 Americans from Talker Research reports 52% now struggle to pay bills like rent on time each month, while an equal number are struggling to afford necessities like groceries. Nine in 10 people believe the U.S. is experiencing a full-blown cost-of-living crisis, and nearly eight in 10 said everything became more expensive in 2025.
The question isn’t whether Americans are struggling. It’s what they’re doing about it.
Tax Refunds Have Become Survival Money
What used to be bonus money for a vacation or a splurge has become the difference between making it through the month or not.
Half of respondents said they expect a tax refund this year, and among those, 73% admitted they need it more than ever before. Six in 10 said they need their refund earlier than usual just to stay afloat. The desperation shows up most clearly among younger Americans, where 74% of Gen Z expecting refunds said they need the money earlier than ever, compared to just 34% of baby boomers. That gap tells a story about which generation has any financial cushion left.
Where the money goes tells a similar story. Nearly three in 10 people plan to use refund money on necessities like groceries and gas. Another quarter will put it toward savings or paying down debt. Only 14% said they’d spend refund money on anything fun.
https://studyfinds.org/9-in-10-americans-believe-cost-of-living-crisis/