Purpose: The article aims to present the financial situation of Polish households
affected by financial and economic crisis.

Method: A direct survey based on questionnaire interviews with 1896 households
was conducted in order to collect full and up-to-date information on the level of their
current incomes, savings, and preventive measures taken to improve the material
situation, the subjective assessment of the material conditions and the allocation of
monetary resources.

Conclusions/Originality: The article provides a thorough insight into the influence
of a financial and economic crisis on the financial situation of Polish households.
Based on the conducted survey, the structure of the households’ savings, the changes
therein, as well as their projected uses were identified. The preventive and remedial measures that households take to improve their material conditions were also analysed. The direct survey provided an opportunity to evaluate the selected households with respect to their material conditions and the allocation of cash resources.