How many days do you have to work to cover your household bills?
“Advance America, a leading loan provider, surveyed 3,002 families to find out how many days they need to work to cover household bills,” which includes “childcare, food, health care, housing, internet and mobile, transportation, and other necessities.”
It may come as a surprise to some Connecticut residents, but the Nutmeg state did not crack the top five, according to Advance America:
1. Alabama: 26 Days
=2. Rhode Island: 24 Days
=2. Mississippi: 24 Days
4. Michigan: 23 Days
5. South Carolina: 22 Days
Residents in Connecticut on average have to work 19 days to cover household bills, according to the survey.
“Advance America decided to dig deeper, asking Connecticut families what they would cut to stretch $1,000 further, which bills feel heaviest, and how a sudden cash boost would really be used,” according to Advance America. “Their answers give a fuller picture of where households are struggling – and what sacrifices they would make first.”
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Take a peek at each state’s average below, courtesy of Advance America:
Check out these other findings from the survey, according to Advance America:
What would families cut first?
Dining out and takeout are the first luxuries on the chopping block, with nearly half of respondents willing to sacrifice restaurant splurges if it meant keeping their budget alive longer. Entertainment subscriptions came second, while travel, groceries, and utilities lagged far behind as cuttable expenses.
- 47% – Dining out / takeout
- 26% – Entertainment / streaming subscriptions
- 15% – Driving / travel
- 8% – Groceries / food choices
- 4% – Utilities (heating, cooling, electricity)
Which bills are rising the most?
No surprises here: grocery costs are the runaway leader. More than half of respondents (56%) said food spending had jumped the most over the past year. Utilities came second at 17%, followed by rent and housing at 15%. Entertainment, childcare, and transport barely registered in comparison.
It’s clear that what’s weighing families down isn’t “extras,” but the basics that keep households running.
Generational comparisons
When asked how today’s $1,000 stacks up against what their parents had at the same age, the majority didn’t mince words. Nearly half (44%) said it goes much less far today. Another 18% said it goes slightly less far, while just 19% believe it stretches further. In other words, nostalgia isn’t lying – yesterday’s dollar really did work harder.
Emergency $1,000: where would it come from?
Here, Nutmeggers are split between resilience and reliance. Just over half said they would dip into savings, but a sizable chunk would turn to family, credit, or extra work.
- 51% – Existing savings
- 19% – Borrow from family or friends
- 17% – Credit card or loan
- 13% – Side job or extra hours
How would $1,000 feel if it landed tomorrow?
For some, it would change everything; for others, it would vanish in a blink. Nearly a quarter of respondents described the sum as “life-changing,” while the largest share (41%) said it would be “helpful, but gone quickly.” Another 29% saw it as “a big help,” and just 7% said it would barely register. Nobody called it meaningless. That alone says a lot about how precarious everyday finances have become.
“These results show just how differently families experience the cost of living. In some states, it takes nearly half the month’s work just to cover the bills, while in others it’s under a week. But everywhere, essentials like groceries and energy are the biggest strain,” said Laura McCutcheon, VP of Marketing at Advance America.