I stumbled across a fascinating study by Kansas State University that came up with four different ways that we view money. You can check out the study here.
Our attitudes towards money is shaped by so many different factors such as our upbringing, income and our social circles and understanding this can help set you up for financial success.
Find out your money personality by seeing which phrases resonate the most with you – make a note of the letter and find out your personality type at the end of the article!
A:
- Money buys freedom
- More money will make you happier
- There will never be enough money
- Money is power
- Money would solve all my problems
B:
- I will not buy something unless it is new (e.g. car, house)
- People are only as successful as the amount of money that they earn
- Rich people have no reason to be unhappy
- Your self-worth equals your net worth
- If someone asked me how much I earned, I would tell them more than I actually do
C:
- It is important to save for a rainy day
- You should not tell others how much you have or make
- Money should be saved, not spent
- I don’t believe in treating myself
- If someone asked me how much I earned, I would tell them less than I actually do
D:
- I do not deserve a lot of money when others have less than me
- Rich people are greedy
- It is not okay to have more than you need
- I do not deserve money
- Money corrupts people
And, here are the results:
A: Money Worshipper
Individuals who subscribe to this notion believe that an increase in income and/or financial windfalls would solve their problems and make them happier. Money worshippers tend to have more debt and not pay off their credit card each month so if this is you, keep an eye on your debt.
As a personal finance blogger, you won’t be surprised to hear that I am in fact a money worshipper. What can I say, I love money!
B: Money Status
Individuals in this category equate self-worth with their net worth. They can be competitive and have a desire to acquire more than those around them. They also see a clear distinction between socio-economic classes.
What I would interesting was those in this category were less educated and less wealthy! If this resonates with you, try not to keep up with others with your finances and focus on your own goals.
C: Money Vigilance
Individuals that fall in this category treat money as something shameful to be secretive about – it doesn’t matter if they are rich or poor. This approach can mean the person is more frugal and prioritises saving, however it is out of fear and anxiety rather than knowledge. This stress can defeat the purpose of money providing financial security and peace of mind.
This approach is one that is probably the most further away from my personal financial outlook. If you fall in this category, I would recommend becoming more knowledgeable about finance so it is something that isn’t so scary.
D: Money Avoidance
Money avoiders feel that money is bad or that they do not deserve money. It is something that triggers anxiety and fear. As a result, these individuals may abuse credit cards or give away money to have less control around their finances. As expected, money avoiders usually do not know about their financial situation or what their net worth is.
If you’re a money avoider, it may help to become more in control of your finances. Start small with a simple budget, figure out your income and expenses to get on top of your money.