Fewer Americans Have Put Off Decisions for Financial Reasons

As Financial Literacy Month begins, CPAs urge consumers to prioritize their financial well-being

WASHINGTON, April 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- A Financial Literacy Month survey conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) shows financial pressures easing slightly, as the share of Americans delaying decisions for financial reasons in the past year dropped from 61 percent in 2025 to 55 percent in 2026.

In addition, the survey shows 36 percent of Americans feel better about their financial situation over the next 12 months compared to the previous 12 months, similar to last year's survey results (36% in 2026 and 33% in 2025).

Americans were asked if they had postponed anything, including travel, homebuying, higher education, marriage or retirement, for financial reasons over the past year. Forty-five percent reported not putting off anything for financial reasons in the past year, a six percentage-point increase over the same statistic from 2025 (39%).

One third of Americans had postponed a vacation. Sixteen percent of Americans reported delaying buying a home.

While 36 percent of Americans feel better about their financial situation over the next 12 months, the cost of goods/services could be a household budget standout. Fifty-nine percent of Americans who have delayed something for financial reasons over the past year say it was due to the cost of goods/services.

"The optimism seen in financial outlook for 2026 is encouraging however, the reality of rising prices highlights the need for Americans, in particular, those aged 18-34, to prioritize their financial well-being," says Cary Sinnett, senior manager, AICPA Personal Financial Planning. "Consumers can utilize Financial Literacy Month as a starting point to take charge of their finances." 

Financial Outlook for 2026

When asked how they felt about their financial situation over the next 12 months compared to the previous 12 months:

• 36% said they feel much/somewhat better (+3 percentage points vs. 2025)
• 37% said they feel neither better nor worse (flat vs. 2025)
• 27% said they feel much/somewhat worse (–3 percentage points vs. 2025)

Delayed Purchases and Plans

• Forty-five percent of Americans said they haven't delayed anything for financial reasons in the past year (significantly higher than in 2025 - 39%).
• Over half of Americans (55%) said they have delayed something in the past year for financial reasons (significantly lower than 2025 – 61%).
• Americans aged 18-34 (70%) are significantly more likely to have delayed something for financial reasons in the past year than those aged 45+ (45%).
• Sixty-eight percent of those aged 65 and over haven't delayed anything for financial reasons in the past year, significantly higher than those aged 55-64 (52%), 45-54 (40%), 35-44 (34%) and 18-34 (30%).
• Fifty-nine percent of those who have delayed plans/purchases for financial reasons in the past year attribute the delay to higher costs for goods and services (+2 percentage points vs 2025).

Advice from CPAs:

Get yourself unstuck and shift from "budgeting" to "awareness and control"
Budgeting can feel restrictive but if you reframe it as "understanding where your money is going so you can take control of it," it's more empowering and feels less like punishment. A lot of people aren't struggling to manage their finances because they don't know what to do – they get overwhelmed or avoid it. Starting small can make a big difference.

Create a plan for yourself
Before changing anything, simply track every dollar that goes out for one week. Seeing the patterns is the first step toward control. List all your income sources, then outline your fixed expenses (housing, insurance, loans, childcare, and utilities) and your variable expenses (groceries, dining out, shopping, travel, and subscriptions) using either an app or simple paper and pencil. Track your spending with no judgment and continue tracking for at least a month to gain a clear, honest picture of your spending patterns. This process doesn't have to be perfect.

Pick one "pain point" 
Do you notice any surprises in your lists? Is it credit card debt? Dining out? Auto-renewing services? Maybe it's small daily or weekly purchases that eat into your take home pay. Don't try to fix everything at once. Identify one area - such as dining out or credit card debt - and focus your energy on it for 30 days. Your financial behavior needs to be sustainable and something you can do consistently.

Set your spending to match your financial priorities
Whether your goal is to pay off debt, build savings or create more flexibility in your life, your actions should mirror what matters most to you. Work to make financial habits feel purposeful, not restrictive. Consider automating savings transfers from your paycheck to make it as painless as possible.

"When it comes to your money, you don't need to be perfect, you need to be consistent," says Sinnett. "Understand where your money is going, set attainable goals and use tools that you personally find helpful to get you on track to a positive financial future."

Consumers can find helpful articles on topics such as budgeting, debt, filing taxes, teaching kids about money and more on the AICPA's Financial Literacy Resources web page.

Survey Method:

This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of AICPA from March 10 - 12, 2026 among 2,091 adults ages 18 and older. The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval. For this study, the sample data is accurate to within +/- 2.7 percentage points using a 95% confidence level. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact the AICPA.

About the American Institute of CPAs

The American Institute of CPAs^® (AICPA^®) is the world's largest member association representing the CPA profession, with 397,000 members and a history of serving the public interest since 1887. AICPA members represent many areas of practice, including business and industry, public practice, government, education, and consulting. A founding member of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, the AICPA sets ethical standards for the profession, attestation standards, and U.S. auditing standards for private companies, not-for-profit organizations, and federal, state, and local governments. It develops and grades the Uniform CPA Examination, offers specialized credentials, partners across the profession to build future talent, and drives continuing education to advance the vitality, relevance, and quality of the profession.

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SOURCE AICPA