Featured on Royal Credit Union’s Money Donuts® podcast, this money personality quiz examines your spending habits and explores your money personality’s characteristics, takeaways, and issues. Curious if you’re a Saver or a Spender, or perhaps a Giver or Safe Seeker? Maybe you’re even a Risk Taker or Flyer! There is no wrong answer, all money personalities have pros and cons to them. Read on to learn yours!
Part 1
Take the quiz! If the phrase below describes you, write down the letter that follows it. If the phrase doesn't fit you, then don't write down a letter. Continue to Part 2 to understand what your letters mean.
I understand the difference between the things I want and the things I need. (A)
I rely mainly on my instincts when making purchases. (D)
I never return from shopping without having bought something. (B)
If I like something I just buy it; I make purchase decisions quickly. (D)
I don’t keep track of how much money I have. (F)
I like to have the fashionable and most up-to-date things. (B)
I spend little time planning for the future. (F)
I tend to overdo it when buying gifts for family and friends. (E)
Budgeting is the last thing I ever want to do. (F)
The reason I want to have a lot of money is not to have to worry about money in the future. (C)
If I won $10 million, I would be most excited about all the things I could buy. (B)
Shopping really cheers me up when I’m having a bad day. (B)
I always stay within my budget. (C)
When I go shopping, I plan ahead for the purchases I’ll make. (C)
I don’t enjoy spending money. (A)
I get great joy from helping others. (E)
I do a lot of comparison shopping before buying a big-ticket item. (C)
I usually spend money only on things that are really important to me. (A)
I believe money issues will work themselves out eventually; money is my last priority. (F)
I get most joy from seeing my friends and family happy. (E)
I have things in my closet that still have the price tag on them. (B)
I buy the things I want when I want them and worry about paying for them later. (D)
Saving money makes me feel happy and comfortable. (A)
I would much rather have someone else handle my money. (F)
I have no problem going into debt or borrowing money for something I want. (D)
If I won $10 million, I would be very pleased knowing my future is secure. (C)
If I want something that costs more than my budget, I will save up for it. (A)
I am willing to loan money to friends and family in need. (E)
I will pay more for an item if it’s by a sought-after or high-quality brand. (D)
I really enjoy sharing my possessions with others. (E)
Part 2
Understand your results! The letter that you have the most of is your top money personality. You might also be split between two or more personality types. Here are the personalities and their letters:
THE SAVER – Mostly Letter “A”
Characteristics:
• You take pride in saving rather than spending
• You enjoy watching your savings grow
• You'd rather not buy something than risk paying too much for it
• You frequently choose less over more
• You can spend money but get more satisfaction from having money left over
• Isn't this a great “problem” to have?
Issues: You may find it hard to treat yourself or even spend on essentials. You may have trouble being generous with others. You could miss out on valuable opportunities and experiences.
Takeaway: Money is a means to an end; not an end in itself.
THE SPENDER – Mostly Letter “B”
Characteristics:
• You don't agonize over spending money
• You love to give gifts
• You spend money as soon as it’s available
• You have a “live for today” attitude
• You tend to see a deal in every transaction
• You know a good deal when you see it
• Your spare cash goes to things that give pleasure to you and those you care about
Issues: You may have trouble saving and controlling your debt. You may put too much emphasis on status. Your self-worth could depend too much on material things.
Takeaway: Saving and giving can feel just as good as spending.
THE SECURITY SEEKER – Mostly Letter “C”
Characteristics:
• You like to play it safe
• Before spending money, you need to feel you've explored all the options
• You don't like to borrow or lend money
• You spend money but get more satisfaction from adding to your savings
Issues: You may overthink things. You may have difficulty seizing opportunities or being spontaneous. You may become overly focused on yourself.
Takeaway: Open Up! Take some risks! Doing well means doing good for me and my community.
THE RISK TAKER – Mostly Letter “D”
Characteristics:
• You tend to have an all-or-nothing mentality
• You tend to see a deal in every transaction
• You like to negotiate
• You think a big potential payoff makes a calculated risk worthwhile
• You'd rather invest than save money
Issues: You may need help setting limits when it comes to financial transactions. You may
become impatient and gloss over risks and problems. You may end up losing money.
Takeaway: Slow down! Take time to assess what can go wrong before you dive in.
THE GIVER – Mostly Letter “E”
Characteristics:
• You focus on, and enjoy, helping others
• You're generous with your own time and money
• You feel responsible for others' well-being
• Putting yourself first is hard to do
Issues: You may have a hard time saying “no.” You may ignore your self-interest.
Takeaway: Take care of yourself first, then serve others.
THE FLYER – Mostly Letter “F”
Characteristics:
• Money matters are of no interest to you
• You like to explore and have new experiences
• You are generous with your time and money
• Planning ahead seems like a drag
Issues: Lack of planning could cause problems. You may be too quick to give control over your money to others who do not act in your best interest. You may end up living beyond your means.
Takeaway: Taking good care of my money allows me to do what I want.
Did you agree with your result? Each of the personalities has pros and cons, and you may find that you align with more than one type. If you’re a Risk Taker, maybe a financial review can help you evaluate your financials. Or if you identified as a Giver, try making a list of your monthly costs so you can get a better picture of where your money goes. It’s important to prioritize your needs and responsibilities too!
No matter your money personality type, Royal is here to support your financial needs and help make your goals possible. You can schedule a financial review or find other helpful articles and how-tos here.
