You might be doing financially better

@moneycoachdave

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Why it worked

The video uses a relatable topic (personal finance and comparing oneself to others) and presents it in an easily digestible, visual format with clear benchmarks. The 'social media vs. reality' framing taps into a common sentiment, making the content engaging and shareable.

Summary

The video presents five financial benchmarks to help viewers assess if they are doing better than the average American. It contrasts the idealized financial situations often seen on social media with the reality of average finances, covering credit card debt, emergency savings, car payments, Roth IRA ownership, and median salary.

Structure

1Introduction: Social media vs. reality of finances
2Benchmark 1: No credit card debt
3Benchmark 2: One month of expenses saved
4Benchmark 3: No car payment
5Benchmark 4: Roth IRA open
6Call to action: How many benchmarks apply to you?
7Benchmark 5: Median salary

Product placement

The video discusses personal finance benchmarks like credit card debt, savings, car payments, Roth IRAs, and salary, comparing them to averages. No specific product is promoted.

Call to action

Original caption

How many are you above? You might be doing financially better than the average American if you’re above any of these benchmarks. Social media makes it look like everyone is rich, owns a home, and casually vacations in Europe. Real life usually looks very different. These 5 benchmarks are a simple reality check to see whether you may be doing better financially than you think. How many of the 5 are you above? #PersonalFinance #FinancialLiteracy #Wealth #MoneyTalk #learnontiktokcontest

More from @moneycoachdave

On-screen text

Better Than Average? 5 money benchmarks Debt Savings Car Roth Salary DOING FINANCIALLY BETTER Average American Finances You Doing Better Than Average? THAN THE AVERAGE Your Feed Is Not Reality Millionaire Owns a house Italy trips A MILLIONAIRE AND TAKES CASUAL VACATIONS TO ITALY THE PERSONAL FINANCES OF THE AVERAGE AMERICAN TELL A VERY DIFFERENT STORY 5 Benchmarks 1 2 3 4 5 FIVE FINANCIAL BENCHMARKS Above = Better Than Average YOU'RE DOING BETTER THAN THE AVERAGE AMERICAN NO CREDIT CARD DEBT Average balance $6,768 $6,768 YOU CARRY $0 AND PAY IT OFF EVERY SINGLE MONTH HUGE WIN BENCHMARK #2 One Month Saved Only 30% WOULD USE SAVINGS TO COVER A $1,000 EMERGENCY BUT IF YOU SAVED THEN YOU'RE BUILDING REAL STABILITY BENCHMARK #3 No Car Payment New car $770/mo Used car $531/mo YOUR PAYMENT $0 SO IF YOU AND HAVE NO THAT IS A HUGE MONTHLY ADVANTAGE BENCHMARK #4 Roth IRA Open 28% OF US HOUSEHOLDS ROTH IRA SO EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT MAXING IF YOU'VE OPENED ONE AND STARTED TO INVEST YOU'VE STARTED SOMETHING THAT MOST PEOPLE Before #5... How many apply to you? How many are you above average? FEELING THAT MANY ABOVE AVERAGE BENCHMARK #5 Median Salary $62,600/year $62,600

Transcript

You might be doing financially better than the average American if you're above any of these benchmarks. Social media makes it look like everyone is rich, owns a home, and casually vacations in Europe. Real life usually looks very different. These 5 benchmarks are a simple reality check to see whether you may be doing better financially than you think. How many of the 5 apply to you? How many are you above average? And finally number five, you make more than the American full-time salary, which in 2025 was $62,600/year. So if you make more than that, you're doing better than average. So here are five financial benchmarks. Above = Better Than Average. You're doing better than the average American. Number one, no credit card debt. The average American credit card balance is $6,768. So if you carry a balance and pay it off every single month, that's a huge win. Number two, you have one month of expenses saved. Bankrate says that only 30% of Americans would use savings to cover a $1,000 emergency. But if you saved one month, then you're building real stability. Number three, you don't have a car payment. The average new car payment is $770/month, the average used car payment is $531/month. So if you own your car and have no car payment, that is a huge monthly advantage. Number four, you have a Roth IRA open. Only 28% of US households have opened a Roth IRA. So even if you're not maxing yours, if you've opened one and started to invest, you've started something that most people haven't. Before #5... How many apply to you? How many are you above average? I have a feeling that many of you are above average. And finally number five, you make more than the American full-time salary, which in 2025 was $62,600/year. So if you make more than that, you're doing better than average.