By Patrick Baron

BLOOMINGTON – A new survey from Country Financial indicates Illinoisans don’t have enough funds saved to get by for long following an emergency.

According to the survey, 51 percent of respondents said their savings would not extend past three months. In the same survey, 32 percent of Illinoisans don’t believe they could keep up with bills after being out of work for more than one month, and 37 percent viewed their financial security in the range of “poor” to “fair.”

Country Financial representative Matt Potts said residents being unprepared for unplanned expenses like natural disasters is concerning.

“We talk about not only those catastrophies, but just unplanned expenses – you know, your car breaks down, furnace goes out, medical bills are another that can really hurt people,” Potts said. “That is something you definitely want to have that emergency fund set up for.”

Potts recommended having at least three to six months worth of savings prepared should an emergency arise. The same survey showed 83 percent of respondents have confidence in their ability to pay any debts that are accrued.

Patrick Baron can be reached at [email protected].