Being a smart consumer is about much more than just tucking away a few dollars every month.

It’s about arming yourself with the knowledge you need to manage your money wisely, like how to budget, pay off debt, and save money on everyday purchases.

Judging by the data, most Americans are still struggling with the basics.

According to the National Foundation for Credit Counseling:

• 25% of Americans do not pay their bills on time
• 38% carry month-to-month credit card debt
• 8% have debts currently in collections
• Millennial women (ages 18-34) in particular are driving the growth in the ranks of those not paying bills on time

However, it’s not all doom and gloom when it comes to consumer behavior. The most recent survey turned up some promising trends as well:

• 29% of adults are saving more now than they did last year
• More adults (37% in 2018 vs. 32% in 2017) are using 401k plans to save for retirement
• 51% of adults are spending the same as last year while 25% are spending less

With wages relatively flat-lined and the job market getting tighter, many consumers are responding by getting smarter with how they save and spend.

We set out to see which states are ahead of the game in terms of consumer savvy.

In our study, we compiled data on the average credit score, credit card debt, and retirement savings for each state. We also looked at Google Trends search data for coupon- and personal-finance related searches.

We then assigned each of these five categories a percentage and calculated the weighted to determine each state’s score:

The Top 10 U.S. States with the Savviest Consumers

1. Indiana

It seems that Hoosiers spend a lot of time beefing up their personal finance knowledge and searching for savings through coupons. Consumers in Indiana also fall on the higher end for credit scores and the lower end for credit debt, a nice one-two punch of consumer know-how.

2. Kentucky

The Bluegrass state claims the second spot. Kentucky shows high search frequency for coupon-related savings and personal finance knowledge. While credit card debt is a bit high, credit scores surpass many other states to even things out for the wise consumers of Kentucky.

3. Minnesota

As you might expect, citizens in the state known for their niceness take their credit scores very seriously. In fact, Minnesota boasts the highest average credit score in the country. Minnesotans also enjoy relatively high levels of retirement savings.

4. New Hampshire

With an average credit score pushing close to 700 and one of the highest rates of retirement savings in the country, consumers in the Granite State are some of the savviest in the country. New Hampshirites are also good at keeping their credit card debt in check with relatively low rates in that department.

5. Missouri

Consumers in this Midwestern bastion of financial freedom are on top of their coupons and personal finance research. They’re also adept at keeping their credit card debt remarkably low in comparison to their peers in other states.

6. Ohio

No other state searches for coupons more than consumers from the Buckeye State. They’re top of the heap in that department. Paired with tremendously low credit card debt and robust retirement savings, Ohio is a great spot for smart consumers.

7. Nebraska

Across the board, consumers in Nebraska are clocking in with high retirement savings, low credit card debt, and high coupon search volume. This state is an example of an overall healthy consumer financial picture.

8. Kansas

With relatively high coupon search rates and solid average credit scores, Kansas consumers have a steady hand on their finances. Despite higher than average credit card debt, retirement savings are and personal finance-related searches are up.

9. Michigan

Just behind its neighbor and rival Ohio in coupon searches, Michigan consumers also come through with low credit debt and very robust retirement savings. Consumers in Ohio really know how to handle their wallets.

10. Illinois

With high coupon search rates, leading average credit scores, and significant retirement savings, the Land of Lincoln makes the top of the list. Consumers in Illinois perform well in a number of categories. Despite higher-than-average credit debt, Illinois is still home to smarter-than-average spenders.

Rank	State	Coupon	Avg Credit Debt	Avg Credit Score	Avg Retirement Savings	Personal Finance Search Volume
1	Indiana	91	$6,958	683	$212,908	100
2	Kentucky	84	$7,190	663	$217,860	61
3	Minnesota	68	$6,761	709	$234,106	47
4	New Hampshire	67	$6,838	695	$264,624	41
5	Missouri	80	$6,491	647	$213,408	77
6	Ohio	100	$5,446	678	$222,700	42
7	Nebraska	66	$6,180	666	$233,910	53
8	Kansas	64	$7,040	680	$202,358	50
9	Michigan	95	$6,082	677	$241,395	44
10	Illinois	89	$7,278	681	$223,238	51

The post The U.S. States with the Smartest Consumers: How Does Your State Stack Up? appeared first on DollarSprout.