Suze Orman's Quiz: What's Your Money Personality?

What's Your Money Personality?

By Suze Orman

Are you a penny-pincher, a financial wreck, a spender, a daredevil or on the right track? Take Suze's quiz to determine your money personality.

Most of us live with the results of how we deal—or don't deal—with our money. The small choices we make every day have a huge impact on what kind of financial life we have. Our money choices form a pattern, and this pattern becomes a money personality.

Do you pinch pennies? Overspend wildly on your credit cards? Find it impossible to save? Or are you someone who has her money under control? This quiz is designed to give you a better idea of how you handle your money and why you make the financial decisions you do. Choose the description under each entry that most applies to you.

Saving

a. When you receive a windfall such as a tax refund or a bonus check, you don't even consider saving it. Instead, you buy something extravagant or go on vacation.
b. Every month you sock away a larger percentage of your household income than is really comfortable for you, even when it means doing without "luxuries" such as dinner out or a movie.
c. You have no money in savings, you're behind on repaying your student loans, and while you keep promising yourself to sign up for your employer's 401(k) plan, years have gone by and you haven't done it.
d. Not only do you not save or invest, you have borrowed against the cash value in your life insurance policy and/or taken a home equity line of credit to pay off your credit cards. A few months later, you have even more debt.
e. You save a manageable amount every month, with specific goals in mind.

Spending

a. You buy what you want, when you want it—on credit if necessary—telling yourself that you'll earn the money to pay for it.
b. You put off buying the essentials, although you can easily afford to pay for what you need.
c. Shopping is a competitive sport for you. If a friend buys the latest skirt or jacket, you have to have one, too.
d. Your closet is full of clothes you've never worn. You have boxes full of products you've ordered but never use, and you probably have collections of watches, bags or shoes.
e. You buy what you need, aren't often tempted by what you don't need, and understand the difference between a need and a want.

Bills and Records

a. You can't be bothered to balance your checkbook. Shouldn't the banks keep track of your money?
b. You check all your account statements frequently, either by phone or online, to make sure your records match exactly. You keep your ATM receipts, credit card vouchers and canceled checks for years.
c. Because you don't pay your bills on time, you often owe a late fee, and sometimes you can't even find your bills amid the clutter on your desk.
d. You have a dozen credit cards and pay only the minimum amount due on each. Your attitude is, 'It doesn't matter what I owe; it only matters what I own.'
e. Your checkbook is balanced, and your bills are paid as soon as they come in. You pay taxes when they are due, and you don't get large refunds.

Giving

a. When it comes to charity, you tend to give impulsively and you're likely to give more than you can afford.
b. You give to charity but restrict your giving to relatively small amounts—$5 or $10—compared to what you could give.
c. You repeatedly donate large amounts of your income to your favorite religious or community group, even though you don't have a retirement savings program.
d. You rarely give money to charity…unless it involves a social event you want to attend or a raffle with great prizes.
e. Every month, you write a check for the same affordable amount to the charities of your choice. You've mindfully budgeted your money and your time to support the causes that are important to you.

Relationships

a. On a whim, you would volunteer to lend a relative or friend a significant sum of money—even if you suspected that he or she might not be able to pay you back.
b. Although you have money in the bank, you rarely carry enough cash to cover your share of expenses on evenings out.
c. You never discuss finances, even with people close to you—you'd be mortified if they found out how you handle your money.
d. Your spouse pleads with you not to spend so much. But you can't, or won't, stop spending, although you know you're creating a strain on your relationship.
e. You and your significant other talk openly about money. You keep separate checking accounts but also have a joint account for household expenses, to which you contribute proportionately according to income.

Planning for the Future

a. You're convinced that the likelihood of something bad happening to you is slim, so why would you need a will, a trust, life insurance or a retirement plan?
b. You've created your own will using a self-help book and a CD-ROM program.
c. As far as you're concerned, the ins and outs of retirement planning, investment accounts, wills and trusts might as well be subatomic physics.
d. With the high cost of living, saving money is totally out of the question.
e. You have a will, a trust, and a durable power of attorney for health care. Your retirement accounts are well funded. You and your spouse—and your children, if you have them—talk openly about how you're planning for your financial future.

Please note: This is general information and is not intended to be legal advice. You should consult with your own financial advisor before making any major financial decisions, including investments or changes to your portfolio, and a qualified legal professional before executing any legal documents or taking any legal action. Harpo Productions, Inc. and its affiliated companies and entities is not responsible for any losses, damages or claims that may result from your financial or legal decisions.