Emergency savings

Nearly half of households in major U.S. cities are “liquid asset poor."

When 40 percent of Americans live paycheck to paycheck, you have to wonder why saving money is so difficult. Marketplace Money’s Carmen Wong Ulrich points to declining wages, but she also says the culture of saving was lost.

Cities and other organizations are looking for new ways to encourage people to save for the future.

Listener Kurt Deutscher, a 49-year-old web developer who grew up in a low-income family in Portland, Oregon, discusses his economic safety net, which came in the form of a unique graduation gift.

Your most recent program discussed the amount and kind of emergency funds needed for people working. My question is what those of us who are retired should consider for emergency funds. William, Schenectady, NY

The place where I keep my emergency fund is in U.S. Treasury I-Series savings bonds. Is there any reason why I wouldn't want to keep the emergency fund there? Is there a dynamic that I am not considering? Dave, Denver, CO

A new study says almost half of Americans don't have enough saved to cover three months expenses, up slightly from a year ago.