"Financially paralyzed": Higher costs have Canadians feeling unable to move forward - RBC poll

Jan 23 2025 11:11 GMT

Finances are "in a constant state of chaos"
Living "bill to bill", dipping into savings to help cover rising costs
2025's "biggest financial risk": Not enough money for unexpected expenses

TORONTO , Jan. 23, 2025 /CNW/ - As higher costs continue to erode cash flow, over half (55%) of Canadians are describing themselves as financially paralyzed, with almost half (48%) reporting they can no longer maintain their standard of living and over one quarter (29%) admitting their finances are in a constant state of chaos.

Other pressing concerns for Canadians surveyed by the RBC Financial Flexibility Poll – Winter Edition:

Believing they won't ever be able to get ahead financially (48%)
Not finding it easy to think about their financial future when they are struggling to handle their day-to-day expenses (47%)
Worrying that it's not a matter of if, but when they'll run out of money to live comfortably (44%)
Feeling they are already over the edge financially (18%)

"As financial flexibility continues to erode, it's not surprising to hear that Canadians are feeling anxious and uncertain about what steps they can take to try to find their footing again," said Craig Bannon, director, Regional Financial Planning Support, RBC. "If this was a medical health issue, you would seek out the expertise of a medical professional. We're advising Canadians to use the same approach for their financial health and lean into the expertise of an advisor."

Additional anxieties raised by Canadians in responses to the RBC poll:

Half (50%) are spending all their income on essential bills and expenses
Almost half are living "bill to bill" and that they have dipped into their emergency fund or retirement savings, to help cope with rising costs (47% each)
Over one quarter (27%) are taking on debt to cover monthly basic needs
Almost a quarter (23%) have asked family for money or moved in with relatives to make ends meet

With finances stretched thin, Canadians are also expressing apprehension about their ability to handle any unplanned costs. A majority (60%) are worried they don't have enough money to cover unexpected expenses today, with 44% saying this is their biggest financial risk over the next year.

All the more reason to speak with an advisor, added Bannon. "We have over 12,000 advisors across the country who can meet with you – in one of our bank branches, online or over the phone – to help you explore solutions you may not even know are possible, including options for managing debt and ongoing expenses, as well as dealing with unexpected financial hardships."

To help Canadians rebuild a strong financial foundation and take control of their long-term financial wellbeing, RBC makes a vast array of financial advice and expertise freely available to Canadians on its My Money Matters digital hub. To check out the content, resources and tools available, please visit rbcroyalbank.com/en-ca/my-money-matters.

Fast Facts: RBC Financial Flexibility Poll – Winter Edition
Selected Findings – National, Regional and Gender

RESPONSE	CAN	BC	AB	SK/MB	ON	QC	AC	M	F
I feel financially paralyzed due to rising costs	55 %	59 %	55 %	56 %	54 %	47 %	73 %	50 %	59 %
I can't maintain my standard of living due to rising costs	48 %	53 %	49 %	46 %	48 %	42 %	61 %	46 %	50 %
My finances are in a constant state of chaos	29 %	32 %	28 %	31 %	32 %	24 %	32 %	28 %	31 %
I don't believe I'll ever be able to get ahead financially	48 %	57 %	51 %	52 %	50 %	33 %	62 %	44 %	52 %
Not easy to think about financial future when struggling to handle my day-to-day expenses	47 %	48 %	53 %	54 %	45 %	40 %	59 %	43 %	51 %
I'm worried it's not a matter of if, but when I'll run out of money to live comfortably	44 %	46 %	45 %	43 %	45 %	43 %	42 %	40 %	48 %
I feel I'm already over the edge financially	18 %	22 %	15 %	23 %	16 %	18 %	18 %	14 %	21 %
I'm spending all my income on essential bills and expenses	50 %	54 %	47 %	55 %	51 %	43 %	64 %	46 %	55 %
I'm living bill to bill	47 %	47 %	51 %	50 %	49 %	38 %	57 %	42 %	53 %
To help cope with rising costs, I've dipped into my emergency fund or retirement savings	47 %	50 %	52 %	56 %	47 %	40 %	54 %	45 %	50 %
I'm taking on debt to cover monthly basic needs	27 %	29 %	26 %	33 %	26 %	23 %	36 %	24 %	30 %
I've had to ask family for money or move in with relatives to make ends meet	23 %	29 %	27 %	24 %	24 %	17 %	24 %	22 %	25 %
I'm worried I don't have enough money to cover unexpected expenses today	60 %	60 %	62 %	66 %	60 %	53 %	67 %	54 %	65 %
My biggest financial risk over next year is not being able to cover unexpected expenses	44 %	46 %	50 %	52 %	44 %	36 %	56 %	41 %	48 %

Fast Facts: RBC Financial Flexibility Poll – Winter Edition
Selected Findings – Generations

RESPONSE	CAN	Millennials (aged 29-44)	Gen X (aged 45-60)	Boomers (aged 61-70)
I feel financially paralyzed due to rising costs	55 %	63 %	55 %	46 %
I can't maintain my standard of living due to rising costs	48 %	56 %	50 %	44 %
My finances are in a constant state of chaos	29 %	35 %	35 %	16 %
I don't believe I'll ever be able to get ahead financially	48 %	55 %	49 %	44 %
Not easy to think about financial future when struggling to handle my day-to-day expenses	47 %	57 %	48 %	34 %
I'm worried it's not a matter of if, but when I'll run out of money to live comfortably	44 %	45 %	49 %	44 %
I feel I'm already over the edge financially	18 %	21 %	22 %	11 %
I'm spending all my income on essential bills and expenses	50 %	57 %	52 %	44 %
I'm living bill to bill	47 %	56 %	50 %	38 %
To help cope with rising costs, I've dipped into my emergency fund or retirement savings	47 %	54 %	46 %	44 %
I'm taking on debt to cover monthly basic needs	27 %	33 %	32 %	19 %
I have had to ask family for money or move in with relatives to make ends meet	23 %	35 %	19 %	7 %
I'm worried I don't have enough money to cover unexpected expenses today	60 %	69 %	64 %	48 %
My biggest financial risk over next year is not being able to cover unexpected expenses	44 %	50 %	49 %	37 %

Disclaimer
Financial planning services and investment advice are provided by Royal Mutual Funds Inc. (RMFI). RMFI, RBC Global Asset Management Inc., Royal Bank of Canada, Royal Trust Corporation of Canada and The Royal Trust Company are separate corporate entities which are affiliated. RMFI is licensed as a financial services firm in the province of Quebec.

About the RBC Financial Flexibility Poll – Winter Edition
From November 1 to November 5, 2024, an online survey was commissioned by RBC among a representative sample of 1,515 Canadian adults (aged 18+), balanced and weighted on age, gender, region and education according to the latest census data. All respondents were members of the online Angus Reid Forum. For comparison purposes only, a sample of this size would yield a margin of error of ± 2.5 percentage points at a 95% confidence level.

About RBC
Royal Bank of Canada is a global financial institution with a purpose-driven, principles-led approach to delivering leading performance. Our success comes from the 98,000+ employees who leverage their imaginations and insights to bring our vision, values and strategy to life so we can help our clients thrive and communities prosper. As Canada's biggest bank and one of the largest in the world, based on market capitalization, we have a diversified business model with a focus on innovation and providing exceptional experiences to our more than 18 million clients in Canada, the U.S. and 27 other countries. Learn more at rbc.com.

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Media contact:
Kathy Bevan , RBC Corporate Communications, 647-618-2287

SOURCE RBC Royal Bank