Just as is the case with retirement savings, there's a common theme when it comes to Americans and finances: We're just not prepared enough.

There's a long list of data telling us we aren't prepared for a rainy day—or barely even a week from now: A Bankrate.com survey found that only 24 percent of consumers have the recommended cushion of at least six months' expenses set aside. The vast majority isn't ready for contingencies; another 24 percent don't have any emergency savings at all.

And while a majority of us are outspending our income and charging new plasma TVs instead of padding our savings, we're getting hit hard by real problems, health care most often topping the list.

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