- Survey of 3,002 families.
- Dining out is the first expense families will sacrifice when tightening budgets.
- Infographic included.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Money has never felt quite this fragile. Families are grappling with stubbornly high grocery prices, ever-rising utility bills, and the looming fear that even their jobs could be on the chopping block thanks to AI. Against that backdrop, Advance America, a leading loan provider, surveyed 3,002 families to find out how many days they need to work to cover household bills.*
To put those answers into context, they then compared household expenses to median household income figures from the County Health Rankings 2025 dataset.
The research revealed that Alabama households need to work the most (26 days) to cover their monthly bills. In contrast, Colorado households average just 10 days, reflecting perhaps leaner budgets that keep spending in check. When it comes to families in The Garden State, they have to work for 15 days to cover their monthly bills.
The five states where they have to put in the most hours are:
1. Alabama: 26 Days
=2. Rhode Island: 24 Days
=2. Mississippi: 24 Days
4. Michigan: 23 Days
5. South Carolina: 22 Days
Advance America decided to dig deeper, asking New Jersey families what they would cut to stretch $1,000 further, which bills feel heaviest, and how a sudden cash boost would really be used. Their answers give a fuller picture of where households are struggling – and what sacrifices they would make first.
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, New Jerseyans 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.
Interactive map showing the survey results by state
“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,” says Laura McCutcheon, VP of Marketing at Advance America.
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