OSAKA — In terms of saving money, single males in their 30s generally fall into two extreme categories: those who diligently set aside their yen and those who spend all they have, according to a recent survey by a consumer credit company.

According to the Internet survey, conducted by Osaka-based GE Consumer Credit Corp., 29.6 percent of the men said they have more than 3 million yen in savings, while 50.8 percent said they have less than 1 million yen.

Sixteen percent said they have "nothing at all."

The consumer credit firm said 6.8 percent have savings of between 2 million yen and 3 million yen, while 12.8 percent have savings of between 1 million yen and 2 million yen.

Asked what their motive for saving money is, 41.4 percent said they are just preparing for "something that could happen."

The second-largest group, at 11 percent, said they are not consciously saving money but their funds are accumulating anyway, while 10.5 percent said they are saving for marriage.

The fourth-largest group, at 9.3 percent, said they are saving in case they are laid off due to company restructuring plans.

By region, those worried about layoffs was the second most common in the Kinki region, at 12.2 percent, nearly double the 6.5 percent recorded in the Tokyo metropolitan area. This appears to verify reports that business conditions are more severe in the Kinki area.

The survey was conducted in mid-March on 500 unmarried men in the Tokyo metropolitan area and the Kinki region.

The Tokyo area includes Chiba, Saitama and Kanagawa prefectures, while the Kinki region consists of Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo and Nara prefectures.