Americans have a fear of shark attacks that’s right on par with financial fear — about 50 percent. But consider two main tips for how best to cope with (the unlikely scenario of) encountering a shark in the wild: Don’t panic and look it straight in the eyes. The same could be said about coping with financial fear.
Advertiser Content From
This advertising content was produced in collaboration between Vox Creative and our sponsor, without involvement from Vox Media editorial staff.
What are you more afraid of — sharks or your finances?
Half of Americans live with financial fear — but new tools can help.
One way to look “it” straight in the eyes? Get the LendingTree app, which makes it possible to compare loans as well as monitor your credit score, cash flow, and financial future in a straightforward and easy-to-understand interface.
It’s important to do so, because when it comes to finances, Americans experience a lot of fear. This isn’t just anecdotal; there are studies that measure how afraid Americans are when it comes to finances. According to the 2018 Chapman University Survey of American Fears, more Americans are afraid of not having enough money for the future (57 percent) than of America getting involved in another world war (51.6 percent).
A 2018 study found that money is the largest source of stress for Americans. Furthermore, 40 percent of Americans are anxious, skeptical, and frustrated by financial planning. This has wide-ranging impacts, including on job performance and relationships. In fact, financial anxiety affects job performance for over a quarter of millennials — roughly 20 million people. And one in five Americans has a financial disagreement with their partner every month.
But there’s good news. Another finding of the study was that nearly 90 percent of Americans agree that “nothing makes them happier or more confident than feeling like their finances are in order.” Remember: Don’t panic and look it straight in the eyes. Happy swimming out there.