The American Payroll Association asked 30,600 Americans "How difficult would it be to meet your current financial obligations if your next paycheque were delayed for a week?"

- Very difficult: 32.25%

- Somewhat difficult: 35.61%

- Not very difficult: 18.89%

- Not at all difficult: 12.99%

- Don't know: 0.26%

(Source: American Payroll Association, online survey of 30,600 Americans completed September 7, 2012.)

Similarly, Nanos Research asked 1,000 Canadians "If your next paycheque was delayed for a week, would it be difficult, somewhat difficult, somewhat easy or easy to meet your current financial obligations?"

- Difficult: 21.1%

- Somewhat difficult: 30.1%

- Somewhat easy: 22.5%

- Easy: 18.4%

- Unsure: 7.9%