Frum Families and Debt: How Are We Really Doing? Survey

We’re exploring how debt affects families in the frum community—how much people owe, what they use credit cards for, what causes them to go into debt, and how debt affects their daily lives.
Please answer as honestly as you can. No identifying information is being requested, and individual responses will not be published.

About You

Your Debt

4.Do you currently carry debt from month to month?

Yes

No

Occasionally

How Do You Use Credit?

8.How often do you use a credit card for expenses that you know you will NOT be able to pay off in full when the bill arrives?

9.Which statement best describes your use of credit cards?

I use them primarily for convenience and pay them off every month.

I occasionally use them when cash is tight.

I regularly use them to bridge a gap until my next paycheck.

I rely on them to cover some basic household expenses.

I rely on them to cover a significant portion of my monthly expenses.

I use them primarily for larger purchases or extras.

Other

10.Have you ever used a credit card to pay for something that you considered a "want" rather than a "need" because you didn't have the cash available?

11.Have you ever used one credit card to pay off or cover another credit card?

Never

Once

Occasionally

Frequently

What Is Driving the Debt?

13.Which is the biggest factor behind your debt?

We don't earn enough to cover our basic expenses.

Our expenses are unusually high.

Our income fluctuates.

A major unexpected expense put us into debt.

We spend more than we should.

We took on debt for a business.

A combination of several factors.

Other

14.Has your household ever gone into debt specifically to maintain a certain standard of living?

15.Do people close to you know how much debt your household has?

16.Have you ever avoided asking someone for financial help because you were embarrassed?

17.Have you ever borrowed money from family or friends without telling them the full extent of your financial situation?

No

Yes

Prefer not to say

Getting Help

18.Have you ever sought professional help for your debt?

Yes

No

I am currently considering it

22.What is one expense you wish you had understood better before you got into debt?

23.What do you think is the biggest misconception people in the frum community have about debt?

24.What do you wish someone had taught you about money before you got married?

25.If you could give one piece of financial advice to a young couple just starting out, what would it be?

One Last Question

26.Which statement comes closest to describing your family's financial situation?

We are financially comfortable and have little or no debt.

We are doing okay, but we sometimes carry debt.

We are financially stretched but generally managing.

We rely on credit to get through some months.

We rely on credit to cover basic necessities.

We are currently struggling significantly with debt.

We are in serious financial crisis.

Prefer not to say.

Thank you for participating. Your responses will help us better understand the financial pressures families are facing and the realities behind the numbers

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