Nearly 3 in 4 Americans have a financial regret: Survey

Although Americans are currently navigating a number of economic hurdles — including high tariffs, rising prices and sluggish hiring — the percentage of people who say they have a financial regret is actually down slightly from 77% in 2024

- Lane Gillespie, Tribune News Service

Managing your personal finances can be complicated. Even for experts, refining a budget, paying off high-interest debt and saving for the future is a matter of trial and error. If you've ever made a financial mistake along your journey, know it’s very common — 74% of Americans say they have a financial regret, according to Bankrate’s new Financial Regrets Survey. Although Americans are currently navigating a number of economic hurdles — including high tariffs, rising prices and sluggish hiring — the percentage of people who say they have a financial regret is actually down slightly from 77% in 2024. “While a majority of ‘Americans still admit to harboring some remorse over their past financial decisions, the decrease is a step in the right direction,” Bankrate Financial Analyst Stephen Kates says.

Making financial mistakes and learning from them are all part of the journey towards financial health. If you've made a financial mistake, know you can learn from it and take steps towards recovery starting today.

Bankrate’s insights on financial regrets:

+Regrets are down slightly, but are still rampant 74% of US adults say they have a financial regret, down from 77% in 2024.

+ Many people are struggling to address their financial regrets 43% of US adults with financial regrets haven't made any progress in the past 12 months, up from 40% in 2024.

+ More affordable essentials could make a difference in many people's financial situations 30% of U.S. adults say cheaper essentials (such as gas or groceries) would most likely improve their personal financial situation in the near future.