Financial Regret Survey: 8 In 10 Have One, And Nearly Half Of Them Say It’s Always On Their Mind

Nearly eight in 10 Americans (80%) have financial regrets and those regrets are becoming a greater source of emotional strain, according to Debt.com's 2026 Financial Regrets Survey of 1,302 U.S. adults. Among respondents with financial regrets, 45% say their biggest regret is always on their mind, up from 29% in 2025, while 80% report experiencing stress or worry. Not saving for retirement sooner is the leading regret at 24%, followed by accumulating credit card debt (22%) and insufficient emergency savings (18%). Despite these concerns, 48% of those with regrets say they feel better about their situation than a year ago, compared with 34% in 2025.

These findings give financial advisers and retirement planning firms a timely reason to emphasize long-term savings strategies, retirement readiness and personalized financial guidance. Credit counseling agencies and debt management services can focus on practical solutions for managing credit card balances, reducing financial stress and rebuilding emergency savings.