The study found the number of Americans delaying life events for financial reasons has more than doubled since a similar survey was conducted in 2007. In 2007, the percentage was 31 percent.

The primary cause for these delays was a lack of savings, cited by 60 percent. This was followed by concerns about the economy (50 percent), difficulty paying non-mortgage monthly bills (39 percent) and medical bills (29 percent).

To help Americans put themselves on more solid financial footing, the AICPA's National CPA Financial Literacy Commission recommends the following steps:
• Start or increase your savings rate – increasing savings can provide households with the funds to enjoy extras without impacting their daily finances.

• Start or continue following a monthly budget – following a monthly budget ensures that households are living within their means and can reduce or eliminate the amount of incurred debt.

• Put less money on credit cards – decreasing incurred debt is an excellent way for Americans to feel more in control of their finances.

• Start or add to an emergency fund – this will enable Americans' daily finances to be less impacted by unexpected costs associated with medical procedures, natural disaster or other events.

study conducted by the American Institute of CPAs

The study conducted by the American Institute of CPAs found Americans