QUIZ: What Kind of Spender Are You? (For Couples or Singles )
To identify what influences your spending, rank each of the statements below from 1 to 5, circling the number that best applies to you. Then tally your score to find out what kind of spender you are.
1 = never 2 = rarely 3 = sometimes 4 = usually 5 = always.
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I can go weeks without shopping, then drop $500 in one afternoon. 1 2 3 4 5
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If I spend too much during a night out, I™ll drastically cut my spending the next day to make up for it. 1 2 3 4 5
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I often suffer buyers remorse after a big purchase and end up returning the item. 1 2 3 4 5
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I have actually canceled plans because I realized I was short on funds from overspending in the days before.1 2 3 4 5
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I’d gladly spend more for a gallon of milk at the convenience store if it will save me a longer trip to the grocery store. 1 2 3 4 5
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I often use my debit card because I don’t feel like going to the ATM for cash. 1 2 3 4 5
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I wouldn’t pick up take-out food when I can get it delivered. 1 2 3 4 5
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If I need something, I’ll just run to the nearest store to get it. 1 2 3 4 5
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When I’m depressed, I’ll often treat myself to some new clothes or a meal to boost my mood. 1 2 3 4 5
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I™ve gone shopping with friends and been surprised later when I looked at the receipts and realized how much I spent. 1 2 3 4 5
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If I see something I like, I tend to buy it no matter what the price tag. 1 2 3 4 5
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I make a shopping list before I go to the grocery store but end up buying almost as many things that aren’t on the list. 1 2 3 4 5
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If I see the words œsale or œdiscount, I buy more. 1 2 3 4 5
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I’m willing to splurge on an expensive item if it’s marked down from the original price.
1 2 3 4 5
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I often find myself explaining, But they were on sale! 1 2 3 4 5
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I’ve bought clothes that were on sale even though I wasn’t sure I’d ever wear them. 1 2 3 4 5
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I’ve put items into the shopping cart at the grocery store and then wondered later why I did.
1 2 3 4 5
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I never look at the price of the entrees when I order from a restaurant menu. 1 2 3 4 5
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When I check out at the grocery store, I am often completely surprised by how high the bill is.
1 2 3 4 5
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I’ve spent more than I intended to during a night out and wondered where the money went.
1 2 3 4 5
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I don’t need to have a lot of clothes, but having designer labels are important to me. 1 2 3 4 5
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I would rather use my credit card to buy the real thing than buy a cheap knock-off with cash.
1 2 3 4 5
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I’d spend a little more for a designer shirt, even if the label only appears on the inside.
1 2 3 4 5
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I often find myself arguing, œBut all my friends have got one! 1 2 3 4 5
(Remember: 1 = never 2 = rarely 3 = sometimes 4 = usually 5 = always).
Look below to see what type of spender you are. (And, yes, it’s possible to be more than one kind.) You don’t need to answer œalways to exhibit tendencies towards a certain type of spending pattern. This assessment is meant to serve as a guide so that you™re more aware of the reasons you may overspend.
If your total score for questions 1 through 4 was 12 points or higher:You’re a Yo-Yo Spender, depriving yourself some days than overcompensating on other days, and hoping it will all even out in the end. Too bad it doesn’t work that way. Binging and purging isn’t good for your diet or your wallet. And there’s the added risk that if you overcompensate too much, you’ll bounce a check, max out your credit card, or get stuck with high overdraft account fees.
If your total score for questions 5 through 8 was 12 points or higher: You’re a Slacker Spender. To you, convenience often matters more than cost. You’re more likely to buy your lunch at an overpriced deli near your office than walk the extra blocks to the less expensive sandwich shop. If the cheaper plane ticket requires a stop-over or an early morning take-off, you’ll gladly pay more to sleep in and take a non-stop flight. In some cases, convenience may be worth the cost. But, often, just a little extra effort could result in some big savings.
If your total score for questions 9 through 12 was 12 points or higher:You™re an Impulse Spender. For you, emotional urges trump reason when it comes to spending money. It’s for people like you that grocery stores line the shelves of the check-out lanes with candy and toiletries and magazines, betting that you won’t be able to resist picking up one last thing while you’re waiting to reach the register.
If your total score for questions 13 through 16 was 12 points or higher:You’re a œSale! Spender. The words œsale and œdiscount and œclearance make you reach instinctively for your wallet even if it means spending more than you initially intended (hey, you™re still getting a bargain, right?) Your instincts are right. The problem is that the discount item may not even be something you need. If you’re never going to wear the shirt, or eat the jumbo-sized package of breakfast sausages, that you bought on sale, then they’re not much of a bargain at any price.
If your total score for questions 17 through 20 was 12 points or higher:You’re a Zombie Spender, paying little attention to where your money goes. You can come home from the grocery store and wonder why”or when”you picked up some of the items in your bags. You often end up with less money in your wallet than you thought you had, but aren’t sure where it went. When you spend money without thinking about it, it™s very easy to overspend.
If your total score for questions 21 through 24 was 12 points or higher: You’re a Status Spender, and you wouldn’t dream of cutting corners with cheap knock-offs. For you, the brand matters more than the price, when it comes to clothes, cars, and everything else. If only your income was as good as your sense of style! Good thing there are sample sales, secondhand stores, sites like craigslist and eBay, and plenty of online discounters selling brand names. Now you just need to take advantage of those less expensive options to satisfy your brand cravings.
Once you know your spending styles, it will become that much easier to come up with strategies that address your individual tendencies and help make sure that you don’t let them get out of hand. Often, you’ll find that your styles complement each other, and that you can actually help each other overcome your personal weaknesses when it comes to spending money.
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