ACTGHS financial situation, adults

Commentary

Respondents to the 2022 ACT General Health Survey were significantly more likely to report that their household can save a bit of money every now and then (48.7%) than save a lot of money (28.6%), have just enough money to get through to next pay day (11.7%), have some money left over but spend it (7.0%) and spending more money than they get (4.0%). There was no significant difference between males and females or between age groups in any of the household finances categories in 2022.

For the purpose of reporting the ACT General Health Survey data on HealthStats, if the 95% confidence intervals of the estimates do not overlap, they are considered to be significantly different.

Note: The indicator shows self-reported data collected through Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI). Estimates were weighted to adjust for differences in the probability of selection among respondents and were benchmarked to the estimated residential population using the latest available Australian Bureau of Statistics population estimates.

Respondents to the 2022 ACT General Health Survey were aged 18 years and over. Persons includes respondents who identified as male, female, other and those who refused to answer and may not always add to the sum of male and female.

The following estimates have a relative standard error between 25% and 50% and should be used with caution:

• 2011/12: males and respondents aged 25 to 44 years who are spending more than they get
• 2013/14: respondents aged 25 to 44 years who are spending more than they get and have some left but spend it
• 2015/16: males, females and respondents aged 45 to 64 years who are spending more than they get and respondents aged 25 to 44 years who have some left but spend it
• 2018: males and respondents aged 25 to 44 years who are spending more than they get
• 2019: respondents aged 65 years and over who are spending more than they get
• 2020: males, females, respondents aged 25 to 44 years and 45 to 64 years who are spending more than they get, respondents who are 65 years and over who have just enough and respondents aged 25 to 44 years, 45 to 64 years and 65 years and over who have some left but spend it
• 2021: males, and females who are spending more than they get and respondents aged 45 to 64 years who have some left but spend it
• 2022: respondents aged 65 years and over who are spending more than they get and have some left but spend it.

The following estimates have not been published due to small numbers or a relative standard error greater than 50%:

• 2011/12: respondents aged 18 to 24 years who are spending more than they get and who have some left but spend it
• 2013/14: respondents aged 18 to 24 years who are spending more than they get, have just enough and who have some left but spend it
• 2015/16: respondents aged 18 to 24 years and 25 to 44 years who are spending more than they get and  respondents aged 18 to 24 years who have some left but spend and who have just enough
• 2018 and 2020: respondents aged 18 to 24 years and 65 years and over who are spending more than they get and respondents aged 18 to 24 years who have some left but spend and who have just enough
• 2019: respondents aged 18 to 24 who are spending more than they get and who have some left but spend it
• 2021: respondents aged 18 to 24 years, 25 to 44 years, 45 to 64 years and 65 years and over who are spending more than they get and respondents aged 18 to 24 years and 654 years and over who have some left but spend and respondents aged 18 to 24 years who have just enough
• 2022: respondents aged 18 to 24 years who are spending more than they get, have some left but spend it and who have just enough.

Statistically significant differences are difficult to detect for smaller jurisdictions such as the Australian Capital Territory. Sometimes, even large apparent differences may not be statistically significant. This is particularly the case in breakdowns of small populations because the small sample size means that there is not enough power to identify even large differences as statistically significant.

Chart

Household finances, adults aged 18 years and over, ACT General Health Survey, 2011-2022

Data

To access the data, select "View source data" link at the bottom of the visualisation. This link will open up a data table that you can download.

Codes and sources

Q. In the past 12 months, did any of these happen to you because you were short of money?

Had to delay or cancel non-essential purchases e.g. holiday, going to a restaurant or movie, buying clothes
Could not pay electricity, gas or telephone bills on time
Could not pay mortgage or rent payments on time
Could not pay for car registration or insurance on time
Could not make minimum payment of your credit card
Pawned or sold something because you needed cash
Went without meals
Were unable to heat or cool your home
Sought financial assistance from friends or family
Sought financial assistance from welfare or community organisations

Yes; No, Not sure; Prefer not to say

Not sure and prefer not to say responses were excluded from analysis.

A copy of the ACT General Health Survey questionnaires can be found in Data collections.