Paul Gill, 30, says his bills are too high and his paycheck too little. A freelance writer, he says he’s living paycheck to paycheck these days.

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He’s certainly not alone. Wallets are tight all around these days, according to a new poll by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling. The poll states that a whopping 64 percent of Americans don’t have $1,000 in reserves if they need it for an unexpected bill.

The poll found that when faced with the need to get money for the unexpected, 17 percent said they’d borrow from friends or family. Another 17 percent said they wouldn’t pay other bills.

Twelve percent said they’d head to a pawn shop to raise funds and 9 percent said they’d take a cash advance from a credit card while another 9 percent said they’d take out a loan.

The foundation says the numbers need to be a wake-up call for those who can afford to save