---
"title": "V. Bill-Paying Practices"
"description": "About half (51%) of all adults surveyed say they don’t rely on a formal budget to guide household expenses. There are no significant differences between men and women; or among income groups. And, there are only modest differences by education and along racial and ethnic lines. There is some variance in the use of a […]"
"date": "2007-02-07"
"authors":
  -
    "name": "Pew Research Center"
"url": "https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/social-trends/2007/02/07/v-bill-paying-practices/"
"categories":
  - "Leisure"
  - "Lifestyle"
  - "Personal Finances"
"datasets":
  -
    "name": "Personal Finance/Social Trust"
    "url": "https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/dataset/personal-financesocial-trust/"
---

# V. Bill-Paying Practices

About half (51%) of all adults surveyed say they don’t rely on a formal budget to guide household expenses. There are no significant differences between men and women; or among income groups. And, there are only modest differences by education and along racial and ethnic lines.

![Figure](https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/legacy/304-interior.gif){.alignright width=307}

There is some variance in the use of a budget by age. Adults on the younger side (ages 18-64) are more likely than those ages 65 and older to rely on a budget.

Significant differences surface by marital status. [Married people are more likely to rely on a budget](https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/social-trends/2007/02/07/what-americans-pay-for-and-how/305-3/) (51%) than are the unmarried (44%). Parents of minor age children (54%) are more likely than non-parents and those with adult age children (44% each) to say they use a budget to guide household expenses.

Employment status is also important. [Workers are more likely than retirees or non-retirees who are not employed to rely on a budget](https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/social-trends/2007/02/07/what-americans-pay-for-and-how/305-3/).

More than half (55%) of [those who have had a debt problem](https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/social-trends/2007/02/07/what-americans-pay-for-and-how/306-3/) (those who have used a credit consolidator or declared bankruptcy in the past) say they rely on a formal budget. Similarly, those with credit card debt that exceeds their ability to pay in full each month are a bit more likely to have a budget for household expenses.

Those who use a budget are [more likely than those who don’t](https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/social-trends/2007/02/07/what-americans-pay-for-and-how/324-3/) to regularly review their household expenses.

Among the former group, nearly two-thirds (64%) say they review their expense at least once a month to see how well they are doing or to make changes in their spending habits; among those in the latter group, just 40% say they engage in this sort of monthly review.

---

**Next:** [VI. Cash, Check, Debit or Credit?](https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/social-trends/2007/02/07/vi-cash-check-debit-or-credit/markdown)