It's difficult to say exactly how many Americans have $0 in savings, since different sources cite different figures. Meanwhile, a Yahoo Finance and Marist poll put the number of Americans without savings higher; 35% of respondents said their savings would not last them a full month if they lost income. Tapping into retirement: Many people see their retirement savings as a solution for unexpected expenses. Earn interest : Almost a quarter (23%) of Americans keep their savings in checking accounts, and 19% store their cash at home. A far better option is to keep your savings in a high-yield savings account, where it can potentially earn as much as 4% APY.