Household Finances

Description

The questions in this module are more subjective than those in the income module, but not all surveys ask income questions. Household finance questions additionally provide information about the past and future relevant to the present situation. They parallel questions in the national economy module in this way. However, we have also included questions about subjective income, lacking income, and socioeconomic class within the household finances module.

Contents

Harmonized Variables

hf_1a | Present Household Finances

Harmonized variable that indicates whether household finances are presently good or bad. 1 = bad, 2 = good

hf_2a | Present versus Past Household Finances:

Harmonized variable that indicates whether household finances are presently better or worse than they were in the past. 1 = worse now, 2 = better now

hf_3a | Future Household Finances

Harmonized variable that indicates whether household finances are expected to get better in the future. 1 = will get worse, 2 = will get better

hf_4a | Subjective Income

Harmonized variable that indicates whether income levels create difficulties or whether it is possible to manage or even save money. 1 = very or somewhat difficult, 2 = can mange or even save

hf_5 | Without Income

Harmonized variable that indicates the frequency with which respondents go without an income. 1 = always to sometimes, 2 = rarely to never

hf_6a | Socioeconomic Class

Harmonized variable to approximating low, middle, and upper classes. 1 = low, 2 = middle, 3 = upper

Present Household Finances

hf_102a | Satisfaction with Financial Situation

To what degree are you satisfied with your financial situation? 1 = fairly dissatisfied, 2 = fairly satisfied

hf_103p | Personal Economic Situation under Present Government

Considering your personal economic situation during the period that the present government has been in power, would you say that your personal economic situation has improved, gotten worse, or remained the dame? 1 = gotten worse, 2 = the same, 3 = improved

hf_104a | Rating of Family Economic Situation

All in all, how do you rate the economic situation of your family today? 1 = very unsatisfactory, 2 = not very satisfactory, 3 = fairly satisfactory, 4 = very satisfactory

hf_104b | Rating of Household Economic Situation

As for your own household, how do you rate its economic situation today? 1 = very unsatisfactory, 2 = fairly unsatisfactory, 3 = fairly satisfactory, 4 = very satisfactory

hf_104c | Satisfaction with Financial Situation

For each of the following, please tell me if you are very satisfied, fairly satisfied, not very satisfied or not at all satisfied? 1 = not at all satisfied, 2 = not very satisfied, 3 = fairly satisfied, 4 = very satisfied

hf_104e | Judgement of Household Financial Situation

How would you judge the current situation in each of the following?  The financial situation of your household.  (Alternative: How would you judge the current situation in each of the following domains?  Your financial situation) 1 = very bad, 2 = rather bad, 3 = rather good, 4 = very good

hf_104f | Rating of Family Economic Situation

How would you rate the economic situation of your family today?  (Alternative: 1 = very bad, 2 = bad, 3 = good, 4 = very good

hf_104g | Description of Personal Economic Situation

Now thinking about your personal economic situation, how would you describe it – is it very good, somewhat good, somewhat bad or very bad? 1 = very bad, 2 = somewhat bad, 3 = somewhat good, 4 = very good

hf_105a | Description of Family Economic Situation

In general, how would you describe your present economic situation and that of your family? 1 = very bad, 2 = bad, 3 = about average, 4 = good, 5 = very good

hf_105b | Description of Economic Situation

How would you describe your overall economic situation? 1 = very bad, 2 = bad, 3 = neither bad nor good, 4 = good, 5 = very good

hf_105c | Assessment of Family Material Situation

How would you assess your family’s material position at the present time? 1 = very bad, 2 = bad, 3 = average, 4 = good, 5 = very good

hf_105e | Rating of Family Economic Situation

As for your own family, how do you rate your economic situation today?  (Alternative: As for your own family, how do you rate the economic situation of your family today?) 1 = very bad, 2 = bad, 3 = so so (not good nor bad), 4 = good, 5 = very good

hf_105g | Rating of Financial Situation

How would you generally rate your current financial situation? 1 = very bad, 2 = bad, 3 = about average, 4 = good, 5 = very good

hf_105h | Satisfaction with of Financial Situation

To what extent do you agree with the following statements?  All things considered, I am satisfied with my financial situation as a whole. 1 = strongly disagree, 2 = disagree, 3 = neither disagree nor agree, 4 = agree, 5 = strongly agree

hf_105m | Rating of Household Economic Situation

Where on a five-point scale would you put your household/family economic situation if one is very bad and five very good?  Present time. 1 = very bad, 5 = very good

hf_110a | Satisfaction with Household Financial Situation

How satisfied are you with the financial situation of your household? 1 = dissatisfied, 10 = satisfied

hf_110b | Satisfaction with Household Financial Situation

How satisfied are you with the financial situation of your household?  Please use this card to help with your answer.  (Alternative: How satisfied are you with the financial situation of your household?  If one means you are completely dissatisfied on this scale, and ten means you are completely satisfied, where would you put your satisfaction with your household’s financial situation?) 1 = completely dissatisfied, 10 = completely satisfied

Present versus Past Household Finances

hf_203a | Family Material Situation Past Year

How has the material situation of your family changed in the past year? 1 = somewhat worse, 2 = stayed the same, 3 = somewhat improved

hf_203b | Family Economic Situation Past Year

Do you consider your economic situation and that of your family to be better, the same, or worse than 12 months ago? 1 = worse, 2 = the same, 3 = better

hf_203c | Economic Situation Past Year

Do you think that your economic situation is better than, the same as, or worse than it was twelve months ago? 1 = worse, 2 = same, 3 = better

hf_203d | Family Financial Situation Past Five Years

Think about how you and your family were doing financially five years ago.  Would you say you are better off today, worse off today or are you doing about the same today as you were five years ago? 1 = worse off, 2 = about the same, 3 = better off

hf_203e | Personal Economic Situation Past Year

And as for you, personally, would you say that your economic situation is rather better, not as good or it has not changed in comparison with your economic situation twelve months ago? 1 = not as good, 2 = it has not changed, 3 = rather better

hf_203p | Personal Economic Situation Past Five Years

In comparison with the last five years of [Socialist/ Communist Regime], would you say that your personal economic situation has improved, gotten worse, or remained the same? 1 = gotten worse, 2 = the same, 3 = improved

hf_205a | Family Economic Situation Past Five Years

How does the economic situation of your family today compare with five years ago? 1 = a lot worse, 2 = a little worse, 3 = much the same, 4 = a little better, 5 = much better now

hf_205b | Family Economic Situation Past Year

Do you consider your economic situation and that of your family to be much better, a little better, about the same, a little worse or much worse than 12 months ago? 1 = much worse, 2 = a little worse, 3 = about the same, 4 = a little better, 5 = much better

hf_205c | Family Economic Condition Five Years Ago

How would you compare the current economic condition of your family with what it was five years ago? 1 = much worse now, 2 = a little worse now, 3 = about the same, 4 = a little better now, 5 = much better now

hf_205c2 | Family Economic Condition Few Years Ago

How would you compare the current economic condition of your family with what it was a few years ago? 1 = much worse now, 2 = a little worse now, 3 = about the same, 4 = a little better now, 5 = much better now

hf_205d | Household Financial Situation Past Year

How does the financial situation of your household now compare with what it was twelve months ago?  (Alternative: Compared to twelve months ago, do you think the financial situation of your household has gotten…; Compared to twelve months ago, do you think the financial situation of your household, now is …) 1 = a lot worse, 2 = a little worse, 3 = stayed the same, 4 = a little better, 5 = a lot better

hf_205e | Family Economic Situation Before Transition

How would you compare your family’s economic situation with what it was before [perestroika/ 1985/ transformation of the economy]? 1 = much worse, 2 = somewhat worse, 3 = same, 4 = somewhat better now, 5 = much better now

hf_205f | Household Economic Situation Before Transition

When you compare the overall economic situation of your household with what it was before the big transformation in the economy (before 1990s).  Would you say that in the past it was: 1 = much better (before), 2 = a little better, 3 = about the same, 4 = a little worse, 5 = a lot worse (better now)

hf_205g | Financial Situation Five Years Ago

Compared to five years ago, how do you think your financial situation has changed? 1 = much worse than five years ago, 2 = somewhat worse than five years ago, 3 = the same as five years ago, 2 = somewhat better than five years ago, 1 = much better than five years ago

hf_205h | Family Economic Prosperity Ten Years Ago

Thinking now about you and your family, do you think you are more economically prosperous, less economically prosperous today than 10 years ago or about the same? 1 = a lot less economically prosperous, 2 = a little less economically prosperous, 3 = the same, 4 = a little more economically prosperous, 5 = a lot more economically prosperous

hf_205i | Household Financial Situation Past Two Years

When it comes to the financial situation of your household, would you say that during these last two years it has improved a lot, improved somewhat, got somewhat worse or got a lot worse? 1 = has got a lot worse, 2 = has got somewhat worse, 3 = hasn’t changed/ stayed about the same, 4 = has improved somewhat, 5 = has improved a lot

hf_205j | Household Financial Situation Five Years Ago

When you compare your overall household financial situation today with five years ago, would you say it was then? 1 = much better (before), 2 = a little better (before), 3 = much the same, 4 = a little worse (before), 5 =much worse (before)

hf_205k | Family Economic Position Past Year

Would you please say whether over the past twelve months the economic position of your family has improved, remained the same or worsened? 1 = much worse, 2 = somewhat worse, 3 = remained the same, 4 = somewhat better, 5 = has become much better

hf_205l | Personal Finances Since Coronavirus

In general, would you say the Coronavirus pandemic has had a good or bad effect on each of the following?  Your personal finances. 1 = very bad, 2 = fairly bad, 3 = neither good nor bad, 4 = fairly good, 5 = very good

hf_205m | Household Economic Situation Five Years Ago

(NOTE: question does not compare with present).  Where on a five-point scale would you put your household/family economic situation if 1 is very bad and 5 very good?  Five years ago. 1 = very bad, 5 = very good

hf_205n | Personal Finances Past Year

Financially, are you better off, worse off, or about the same as a year ago?  Is that much better or somewhat better?  Is that much worse or somewhat worse? 1 = much worse off, 2 = somewhat worse off, 3 = about the same, 4 = somewhat better off, 5 = much better off

Future Household Finances

hf_303a | Family Material Situation Next Year

How do you think the material situation of your family will change in the next year? 1 = will probably get worse, 2 = will stay the same, 3 = will probably improve

hf_303b | Family Economic Situation Next Year

And in the next 12 months do you think that your economic situation and that of your family will improve, stay the same or get worse compared to the way it is now? 1 = worse, 2 = the same, 3 = better

hf_303c | Household Financial Situation Next Year

What are your expectations for the year to come: will [next year] be better, worse or the same, when it comes to the financial situation of your household?  (Alternative: So far as you are concerned, do you think that [next year] will be better or worse than [this year]?  What are your expectations for the next twelve months: will the next twelve months be better, worse or the same, when it comes to…?  The financial situation of your household.) 1 = worse, 2 = same, 3 = better

hf_303d | Economic Situation Next Year

Do you think that in twelve months your economic situation will be better than, the same as, or worse than it is now? 1 = worse, 2 = same, 3 = better

hf_303e | Personal Economic Situation Next Year

And over the next twelve months, do you expect that your economic situation will be rather better, not as good or it that it will not change? 1 = not as good, 2 = it will not change, 3 = rather better

hf_303p | Personal Economic Situation Next Year

And regarding the future, do you expect that in the next year your personal economic situation will improve, get worse, or remain the same? 1 = will get worse, 2 = remain the same, 3 = will improve

hf_305a | Economic Situation in Five Years

What do you think your economic situation will be in five years time? 1 = a lot worse, 2 = a little worse, 3 = much the same, 4 = a little better, 5 = much better in five years

hf_305b | Family Economic Situation Next Year

And in the next 12 months do you think that your economic situation and that of your family will be much better, a little better, about the same, a little worse or much worse compared to the way it is now? 1 = much worse, 2 = a little worse, 3 = about the same, 4 = a little better, 5 = much better

hf_305c | Family Economic Situation in Five Years

What do you think the economic situation of your family will be five years from now?  Will it be: 1 = much worse, 2 = a little worse, 3 = about the same, 4 = a little better, 5 = much better

hf_305c2 | Family Economic Situation in Few Years

What do you think the economic situation of your family will be a few years from now?  Will it be: 1 = much worse, 2 = a little worse, 3 = about the same, 4 = a little better, 5 = much better

hf_305d | Household Financial Position Next Year

How do you think the financial position of your household will change over the next twelve months?  (Alternative: And over the next twelve months, do you think the financial situation of your household will…) 1 = get a lot worse, 2 = get a little worse, 3 = stay the same, 4 = get a little better, 5 = get a lot better

hf_305e | Household Economic Situation in Five Years

What do you think the economic situation of your household will be in five years time? 1 = a lot worse, 2 = a little worse, 3 = about the same, 4 = a little better, 5 = much better

hf_305f | Household Financial Situation Next Year

Compared to now, what do you think the financial situation of your household will be in twelve months’ time? 1 = a lot worse, 2 = a little worse, 3 = about the same, 4 = a little better, 5 = a lot better

hf_305g | Financial Situation in Five Years

And what will your financial situation likely be in five years? 1 = much worse than today, 2 = somewhat worse than today, 3 = the same as today, 4 = somewhat better than today, 5 = much better than today

hf_305i | Household Financial Situation Next Two Years

And would you say that in the coming two years the financial situation of your household will improve a lot, improve somewhat, get somewhat worse or get a lot worse? 1 = will get a lot worse, 2 = will get somewhat worse, 3 = will not change/ will stay about the same, 4 = will improve somewhat, 5 = will improve a lot

hf_305j | Personal Economic Situation Next Year

And over the next 12 months do you expect your personal economic situation to improve a lot, improve a little, remain the same, worsen a little or worsen a lot? 1 = worsen a lot, 2 = worsen a little, 3 = remain the same, 4 = improve a little, 5 = improve a lot

hf_305m | Household Economic Situation in Five Years

Where on a five-point scale would you put your household/family economic situation if 1 is very bad and 5 very good?  In five years’ time. 1 = very bad, 5 = very good

hf_305n | Personal Finances Past Year

Do you think that a year from now you will be better off financially, worse off, or about the same as now?  Is that much better or somewhat better?  Is that much worse or somewhat worse? 1 = much worse off, 2 = somewhat worse off, 3 = about the same, 4 = somewhat better off, 5 = much better off

Subjective Income

This series measures subjective assessments of respondent income, which can be either household or individual income.  This differs from income questions that ask for currency amounts or currency categories.  It also differs from questions about present household finances in that subjective income questions focus on meeting needs, paying bills, difficulties getting by, and making ends meet.

hf_403a | Difficulties Paying Bills

During the last twelve months, would you say you had difficulties to pay your bills at the end of the month…? 1 = most of the time, 2 = from time to time, 3 = almost never

hf_404a | Wonder about Living Expenses

Thinking now about your family and household living expenses, do you ever wonder how you will make ends meet?  Does this happen: 1 = all the time, 2 = often, 3 = from time to time, 4 = hardly ever or never

hf_404b | Subjective Income

How would you describe your current financial situation? 1 = I am driven to get money any way I can, 2 = it’s difficult to make ends meet, 3 = I have to be careful, but I get by, 4 = I manage more or less comfortably

hf_404c | Subjective Income

Does the total income of your household allow you to satisfactorily cover your needs?  I will read out few statements about your income.  Please tell me, which of the following statement is closest to your situation?  (Alternative: Which of these statements comes closest to describing your household income?  Which of the following situations do you find yourself in?) (Alternative responses: 1 = our income does not cover our needs, there are great difficulties, 2 = our income does not cover the needs, there are difficulties, 3 = our income covers the needs all right, without much difficulty, 4 = our income covers the needs well, we can save.) 1 = our household income does not cover our expenses and we face significant difficulties in meeting our needs, 2 = our household income does not cover our expenses and we face some difficulties in meeting our needs, 3 = our household income covers our expenses without notable difficulties, 4 = our household income covers our expenses well and we are able to save

hf_404d | Satisfaction with Income

As I read each of the following, please tell me whether you are very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with this aspect of your life.  Your household income. 1 = very dissatisfied, 1 = somewhat dissatisfied, 3 = somewhat satisfied, 4 = very satisfied

hf_404e| Difficult Making Ends Meet

Please tell me to what extent you agree or disagree with the following statements: You have difficulties paying all your bills at the end of the month. 1 = totally agree, 2 = tend to agree, 3 = tend to disagree, 4 = totally disagree

hf_404f | Subjective Income

Which of the descriptions on this card comes closest to how you feel about your household’s income nowadays? 1 = finding it very difficult on present income, 2 = finding it difficult on present income, 3 = coping on present income, 4 = living comfortably on present income

hf_404g | Subjective Income

How well do you get by with your household’s income? 1 = with great difficulty, 2 = with difficulty, 3 = easily, 4 = very easily

hf_404h | Subjective Income

Do you get enough money from your main source of income to buy what you really need? 1 = definitely not enough, 2 = not quite enough, 3 = just enough, 4 = definitely enough

hf_404i | Satisfaction with Income

I would like to ask you how you regard certain aspects of your present situation.  I will read out a number of aspects and for each one of them.  I would like you to say whether you are very satisfied, fairly satisfied, not very satisfied, or not at all satisfied. Your income. 1 = not at all satisfied, 1 = not very dissatisfied, 3 = fairly satisfied, 4 = very satisfied

hf_404j | Income Condition

I am going to ask you to tell me about different aspects of your daily life.  In each case could you tell me whether you think this aspect is very good, fairly good, fairly bad or very bad?  Your income. 1 = very bad, 1 = fairly bad, 3 = fairly good, 4 = very good

hf_404k | Subjective Income

The salary that you receive and total household income: 1 = is not enough for you and you are having a hard time, 1 = is not enough for you and you are stretched, 3 = is just enough for you, so that you do not have major problems, 4 = is good enough for you and you can save from it

hf_404l | Satisfaction with Income

Now, I will ask you a few questions about the satisfaction with your current situation.  If you take all circumstances into account, to what extent are you overall satisfied: With your financial situation? 1 = very dissatisfied, 1 = rather dissatisfied, 3 = rather satisfied, 4 = very satisfied

hf_404m | Household Savings Past Yer

During the past year, did your family save money, just get by, spent some savings and borrowed money, or spent savings and borrowed money? 1 = spent savings and borrowed money, 1 = spent some savings and borrowed money, 3 = just get by, 4 = save money

hf_405a | Subjective Income

Thinking about your current financial situation in general, would you say it is very difficult, quite difficult, neither easy/ nor difficult, quite easy or very easy to make ends meet? 1 = very difficult, 2 = quite difficult, 3 = neither easy/ nor difficult, 4 = quite easy, 5 = very easy

hf_405b | Subjective Income

How would you describe your current financial situation? 1 = things are very difficult, 2 = I have trouble making ends meet, 3 = I have to be careful, but I get by, 4 = comfortable, 5 = very comfortable

hf_405c | Subjective Income

Looking at this card, which of the following best describes how your household is keeping up with all its bills and credit commitments at present? 1 = having real financial problems and have fallen behind with many bills and credit commitments, 2 = falling behind with some bills and credit commitments, 3 = keeping up but it is a constant struggle, 4 = keeping up but struggle to do so from time to time, 5 = keeping up without any difficulties

hf_405d | Subjective Income

How would you describe your household financial situation during the past year?  Did you save money, spend all your income, spend some of your own savings, or borrow money to live on?  (Alternative: Did you save money, spend about what you earned, spend some of your own savings, or borrow money?) 1 = things are very difficult, 2 = I have trouble making ends meet, 3 = I have to be careful, but I get by, 4 = comfortable, 5 = save money

hf_405e | Subjective Income

Would you say your total (household) income is much less that you need, somewhat less than you need, somewhat less than you need, about what you need, somewhat more than you need, or much more than you need? 1 = much less than needed, 2 = somewhat less than needed, 3 = about what needed, 4 = somewhat more than needed, 5 = much more than needed

hf_405f | Subjective Income

Thinking of your household’s total income, including all the sources of income of all the members who contribute to it, how difficult or easy is it currently for your household to make ends meet? 1 = very difficult, 2 = fairly difficult, 3 = neither easy nor difficult, 4 = fairly easy, 5 = very easy

hf_405g | Subjective Income

Does the salary you receive and your total family income allow you to cover your needs in a satisfactory manner? Which of the following statements describes your situation? 1 = we can’t buy at all what we want, we have no savings or no income, 2 = we need to borrow, spend savings to buy things, 3 = we can manage with difficulties, 4 = just enough to buy what we need, 5 = definitely enough to buy what we want with no difficulties

hf_405h | Worrying About Money

Generally speaking, compared with before the Coronavirus pandemic, are you doing more or less of each of the following, or has there been no real change from before?  Worrying about money. 1 = doing much more, 2 = doing a little more, 3 = no change, 4 = doing a little less, 5 = doing much less

hf_405i | Subjective Income

Does the total income of your household allow you to satisfactorily cover your needs?  I will read out few statements about your income.  Please tell me, which of the following statement is closest to your situation? 1 = our income does not cover the needs, there are great difficulties, 2 = our income does not cover the needs, there are difficulties, 3 = our income covers the needs all right, without much difficulty, 4 = our income covers the needs well, we can save, 5 = our income covers the needs well, we can save a lot

hf_405j | Satisfaction with Household Income

How satisfied are you about the following?  The income of your household. 1 = very dissatisfied, 1 = dissatisfied, 3 = neither nor 4 = satisfied, 5 = very satisfied

hf_405k | Household Income Meets Needs

To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following?  My household’s income is adequate for our needs. 1 = strongly disagree, 1 = disagree, 3 = neither nor 4 = agree, 5 = strongly agree

hf_407a | Satisfaction with Income

How satisfied were you with your income? 1 = completely dissatisfied, 4 = neutral, 7 = completely satisfied

hf_410h| Household Income Compared

Compared with [Country/ region] families in general, what would you say about your family income?  Categories of income, Ladder Scale, no actual values. 1 = poorest, 10 = richest

hf_411a | Satisfaction with Family Income

I am going to ask you now to indicate on this scale we have already used to what extent you are satisfied with your present situation in the following respects.  One means you are completely dissatisfied and eleven means you are very satisfied (recoded).  The income you (and your family) have? 1 = completely dissatisfied, 11 = completely satisfied

Without Income

hf_504a | Without Cash Income Past Year

In the past twelve months, how often have you or your family: gone without a cash income? 1 = often, 2 = sometimes, 3 = rarely, 4 = never

hf_504b | Without Cash Income Past Year

In the past twelve months, how often have you or your family: gone without a cash income? 1 = always, 2 = frequently, 3 = occasionally, 4 = never

hf_504c | Without Cash Income Past Year

In the past twelve months, how often have you, or any family member, gone without a cash income? 1 = always, 2 = often, 3 = occasionally, 4 = never

hf_505b | Without Cash Income Past Year

Over the past year, how often, if ever, have you or anyone in your family gone without: A cash income? 1 = always, 2 = many times, 3 = several times, 4 = just once or twice, 5 = never

Socioeconomic Class

hf_603a | Subjective Social Class

Respondent’s social class. 1 = lower-middle, 2 = upper-middle, 3 = upper

hf_604b | Social Class

Respondent’s social class (Alternative answers: lower, middle, middle upper, upper). 1 = low, 2 = middle, 3 = mid-high, 4 = high

hf_605a | Social Class

Resoondent’s social class. 1 = low, 2 = lower-middle, 3 = middle, 4 = upper-middle, 5 = high

hf_605c | Perceived Socioeconomic Level

Perceived socioeconomic level based on respondent’s perceived socioeconomic level (from interviewer). 1 = very bad, 2 = bad, 3 = not bad, 4 = good, 5 = very good

hf_605d | Subjective Social Class

Respondent identification with social class. 1 = worker, 2 =low, 3 = middle, 4 = middle-high, 5 = high