what do negative interest rates mean for people 
most instances of negative interest rates only apply to bank reserves held by central banks however we can ponder the consequences of more widespread negative rates first savers would have to pay interest instead of receiving it by the same token borrowers would be paid to do so instead of paying their lender therefore it would incentivize many to borrow more and larger sums of money and to forgo saving in favor of consumption or investment if they did save they would save their cash in a safe or under the mattress rather than pay interest to a bank for depositing it note that interest rates in the real world are set by the supply and demand for loans despite central banks setting a target as a result the demand for money in use would grow and quickly restore a positive interest rate 