People across the United States are turning to Google to figure out their finances, and Florida residents are among the most anxious. According to a new study from banking experts at CreditDonkey, Florida ranks 12th in the nation for financial worry based on local internet search habits.
People living in the Sunshine State log an average of 51,698 searches every month for terms related to financial stress. That breaks down to 228.7 money-related searches for every 100,000 residents, meaning a Floridian searches for financial advice more than once every single minute.
To build the rankings, researchers used Google Keyword Planner to track more than 30 terms, including “money saving tips,” “debt relief,” and “budgeting.” The average monthly volume for each state was scaled against its population to ensure a fair comparison.
The data shows that New York is the most financially stressed state in America, averaging 288 searches per 100,000 people. Illinois followed in second place with 269 searches, and Texas came in third at 261.9.
The study found that in every single state, the single most searched phrase was “money saving tips,” followed closely by “credit score.” The remaining top search terms varied depending on the location.
The top ten states with the highest financial search volumes per 100,000 people are detailed below:
| Rank | State | Total Average Monthly Volume | Average Monthly Volume per 100,000 Population |
| 1 | New York | 56,361 | 288.0 |
| 2 | Illinois | 33,761 | 269.0 |
| 3 | Texas | 79,899 | 261.9 |
| 4 | North Carolina | 27,441 | 253.3 |
| 5 | Virginia | 21,613 | 248.0 |
| 6 (=) | Oregon | 10,392 | 245.5 |
| 6 (=) | Colorado | 14,428 | 245.5 |
| 7 | Connecticut | 8,844 | 244.5 |
| 8 | Nevada | 7,763 | 243.0 |
| 9 | Georgia | 26,645 | 241.6 |
| 10 | Missouri | 14,378 | 232.0 |
On the flip side, some states seem far less worried about their wallets when it comes to online spending. Montana recorded the lowest financial search volume in the country at just 177.4 searches per 100,000 people. Arkansas and New Mexico followed close behind with the second- and third-lowest search rates.
Nationally, “money saving tips” averaged more than 313,000 monthly searches. Anna Ge, Director of Research at CreditDonkey, noted that while people are searching for answers, the best starting points are often the simplest.
“Our findings revealed that of the more than 30 search terms analyzed, ‘money saving tips’ was by far the most searched nationally, with an average of more than 313,000 searches every month across the U.S.,” Ge said. “While there are many ways to save costs, some big and some small, there are some ways to help that can be simply implemented. One of the key ways to begin budgeting is knowing what you are spending, which may seem obvious but is often overlooked.”
Ge recommended tracking expenses for a short period to see exactly where cash is going.
“Dedicate a short period, such as two weeks or a month, and track every expense, keeping a note or a spreadsheet of these outgoings,” Ge said. “This may highlight where savings could be made, or where overspending may be happening. For example, evaluate any memberships and subscriptions and calculate their value for money, based on how frequently they are used. When it comes to savings, automate an affordable amount into a savings account just after your paycheck comes in, instead of any remaining money at the end of a month.”
Ge concluded that remaining conscious of spending and budgeting is an effective first step for anyone looking to reduce their financial anxiety.
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