{"id":11296,"date":"2025-11-20T01:51:00","date_gmt":"2025-11-20T07:51:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.discover.com\/online-banking\/banking-topics\/?p=11296"},"modified":"2026-02-02T12:26:31","modified_gmt":"2026-02-02T18:26:31","slug":"money-personality-quiz","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.discover.com\/online-banking\/banking-topics\/money-personality-quiz\/","title":{"rendered":"Money personality quiz: Learn how your beliefs affect your budget"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Ted Klontz knew he should save for retirement. He claimed he wanted to save, and he even hired a financial advisor to help him create a plan. But when the time came to direct funds into his retirement account, he didn\u2019t do it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Frustrated with himself, Klontz\u2014researcher, author and co-founder of an organization focused on the psychology of financial decisions\u2014asked a friend for advice. The friend asked what retirement would mean for Klontz, and he instantly responded: It means you quit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIn my family history, people who retired never did anything&nbsp;related to their entire work career\u2014that part of their life just stopped. I loved what I was doing and couldn\u2019t imagine ever quitting,\u201d Klontz says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After saying it out loud, Klontz, who has a doctorate in psychology, realized what had been holding him back. His internalized beliefs about retirement didn\u2019t reflect his true vision for his future, but they shaped his actions in the present. By making that realization, he was able to imagine his dream retirement. In that dream, he would do work that inspired him, complete it on his schedule and live where he wanted to live.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once this vision was clear to Klontz, he began <a href=\"https:\/\/www.discover.com\/online-banking\/banking-topics\/best-ways-to-catch-up-on-retirement-savings\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">catching up on his retirement savings<\/a>. He put a plan together for selling his business so he could create the retirement he imagined for himself and his family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cEvolving my belief about retirement shifted everything for me,\u201d he says. \u201cSometimes those massive changes happen just by getting another piece of information, either from inside you or from somebody from the outside.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-try-this-money-personality-quiz\">Try this money personality quiz<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A desire to understand how money shapes people\u2019s beliefs and actions has informed the last 25 years of Klontz\u2019s career. He has come to realize the importance of decoding people\u2019s money beliefs\u2014the subconscious ideas, typically learned in childhood, that drive their actions. Along with a team of researchers, he has developed a rigorous assessment to help people determine which money belief they are most impacted by.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What\u2019s your money personality? Uncover how your own beliefs are shaping your financial behaviors by taking this money personality quiz, inspired by Klontz\u2019s research.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-mcd-interactives wp-block-mcd-interactives--money-personality-quiz\">  <iframe class=\"wp-block-mcd-interactives__iframe\" src=\"https:\/\/www.discover.com\/online-banking\/banking-topics\/wp-content\/plugins\/mcd-interactives\/\/src\/interactives\/money-personality-quiz\/money-personality-quiz.html\" title=\"money personality quiz\" id=\"iframe-money-personality-quiz\"><\/iframe><script>iFrameResize({ log: false }, \"#iframe-money-personality-quiz\")<\/script><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s explore why it\u2019s important to understand your money beliefs and dive into the most common financial personalities:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-s-the-value-of-knowing-your-money-personality\">What\u2019s the value of knowing your money personality?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As a leader in the emerging discipline of financial psychology, Klontz\u2014along with others in his field\u2014has made the case that in order to improve your financial outlook, you need to understand your underlying financial beliefs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you understand what your financial personality is, you can begin to change your behaviors, whether that\u2019s your everyday spending habits or your long-term savings plan, Klontz says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe best financial plan, or the best investment advice in the world, isn\u2019t a substitute for understanding one\u2019s own relationship with money,\u201d says author and business executive Deborah Price, CEO and founder of a financial coaching firm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Understanding your relationship with money means digging deep into&nbsp;your money patterns and behaviors as well as what you learned growing up, where most behaviors are formed,&nbsp;Price says.&nbsp;The problem is that many people&nbsp;have blind spots and cannot easily understand these dynamics&nbsp;without guidance and support, she adds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Maybe you say you are focused on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.discover.com\/online-banking\/banking-topics\/4-steps-to-start-an-emergency-fund\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">building up your emergency savings<\/a>, but you still overspend on clothes or travel instead of diverting that cash to your emergency fund. Or perhaps you want to prioritize saving for long-term <a href=\"https:\/\/www.discover.com\/online-banking\/banking-topics\/how-to-set-financial-goals-and-crush-them\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">financial goals<\/a>, but you\u2019re leaving extra cash in your checking account instead of transferring it over to your online savings account.<br><br>Learning to understand your financial behaviors can help you to spot ways in which you may unconsciously undermine your best efforts to improve your financial life, such as by saving or investing, Price says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As you learn what your financial personality is and reflect on what type of spender you are, you can begin to understand why you spend a certain way, even though you say you want to do otherwise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can also transform your beliefs into steps that will help you manage your finances.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"mx-auto block-quote block-quote--1back bg-fixed bg-center bg-no-repeat bg-cover z-0\">\n    <div class=\"block-quote__glow\"><\/div>\n    <blockquote class=\"post--constrain-large\">\n        <p>\u201cThe best financial plan, or the best investment advice in the world, isn\u02bct a substitute for understanding one\u02bcs own relationship with money.\u201d <\/p>\n                    <footer class=\"block-quote__source\">Deborah Price, CEO and founder of a financial coaching firm<\/footer>\n            <\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n    <div class=\"post__content\">\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-uncover-the-most-common-financial-personalities\">Uncover the most common financial personalities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s this gulf\u2014the difference between what people say and what they do\u2014that has motivated Klontz in his research over the years. He has worked with fellow researchers to collect data from thousands of people to analyze their subconscious beliefs about money. From that data, Klontz says they identified four primary financial behavioral patterns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>No one person will match one of these belief systems 100%. But by learning about the attributes of the common financial personalities, you can reveal your own tendencies and be able to answer the question: What\u2019s my financial personality?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s a rundown on these four behavioral patterns. You can see which one resonates with you by taking the money personality quiz<strong> <\/strong>above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-money-avoidance\">Money Avoidance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>People with this pattern tend to believe money itself is bad and that people with too much money are ostentatious, Klontz says. \u201cThey don&#8217;t even bring the subject of money up,\u201d Klontz adds. Money Avoidance may also mean not checking in on your bank account and avoiding a regular review of your bills, Klontz says. If you\u2019re this type of spender and saver, you may believe there\u2019s virtue in living with less money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-money-worship\">Money Worship<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you relate to Money Worship, you may feel that more money will mean greater happiness, Klontz says. You might believe that money can help solve the problems you encounter. Someone with this trait may be wary of other people managing their money. This type of spender is also more likely to carry credit card debt if they are spending to find fulfillment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-money-status\">Money Status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>With this pattern, people connect their self-worth with their financial success, Klontz says. While there are similarities with Money Worship, people with this trait focus more energy on outward displays of wealth. This type of spender may buy more than they can afford as a result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-money-vigilance\">Money Vigilance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Money Vigilance is defined as being careful about finances and being focused on saving. These beliefs can lead to positive behaviors, such as saving for a rainy day and planning for your financial future. At the same time, however, this type of spender may be anxious about money, Klontz says, and potentially even embarrassed by their financial success. These feelings may limit their ability to enjoy the benefits of financial security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2120\" height=\"869\" src=\"https:\/\/www.discover.com\/online-banking\/banking-topics\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Money-Personality-Quiz-Learn-How-Your-Beliefs-Affect-Your-Budget-INARTICLE-3-e1623166790627.jpg\" alt=\"A man carries his bicycle up a flight of stairs.\" class=\"wp-image-11314\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.discover.com\/online-banking\/banking-topics\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Money-Personality-Quiz-Learn-How-Your-Beliefs-Affect-Your-Budget-INARTICLE-3-e1623166790627.jpg 2120w, https:\/\/www.discover.com\/online-banking\/banking-topics\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Money-Personality-Quiz-Learn-How-Your-Beliefs-Affect-Your-Budget-INARTICLE-3-e1623166790627-300x123.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.discover.com\/online-banking\/banking-topics\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Money-Personality-Quiz-Learn-How-Your-Beliefs-Affect-Your-Budget-INARTICLE-3-e1623166790627-780x320.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.discover.com\/online-banking\/banking-topics\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Money-Personality-Quiz-Learn-How-Your-Beliefs-Affect-Your-Budget-INARTICLE-3-e1623166790627-768x315.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.discover.com\/online-banking\/banking-topics\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Money-Personality-Quiz-Learn-How-Your-Beliefs-Affect-Your-Budget-INARTICLE-3-e1623166790627-1536x630.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.discover.com\/online-banking\/banking-topics\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Money-Personality-Quiz-Learn-How-Your-Beliefs-Affect-Your-Budget-INARTICLE-3-e1623166790627-2048x839.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.discover.com\/online-banking\/banking-topics\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Money-Personality-Quiz-Learn-How-Your-Beliefs-Affect-Your-Budget-INARTICLE-3-e1623166790627-730x299.jpg 730w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2120px) 100vw, 2120px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-tap-into-your-own-money-personality-to-reach-your-goals\">Tap into your own money personality to reach your goals<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As you examine your deep-seated beliefs about money, you\u2019ll learn a lot about yourself and be able to answer: What is your financial personality? This process will help you understand what type of spender you are today, and also shape how you spend and save for your future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you\u2019ve taken the money personality quiz, continue your journey with a financial vision board, which can help you align your financial decisions to your priorities in life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Learn how <a href=\"https:\/\/www.discover.com\/online-banking\/banking-topics\/financial-vision-board\/?ICMPGN=OS-BK-ARTCTA\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">creating a financial vision board<\/a> can empower you to realize your major life goals\u2014and even have some fun along the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"disclaimer\">Articles may contain information from third parties. The inclusion of such information does not imply an affiliation with the bank or bank sponsorship, endorsement, or verification regarding the third party or information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"disclaimer\">The information provided herein is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be construed as professional advice. Nothing contained in this article shall give rise to, or be construed to give rise to, any obligation or liability whatsoever on the part of Discover, a division of Capital One, N.A., or its affiliates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"disclaimer\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Take this money personality quiz to learn how your subconscious beliefs about money impact your day-to-day spending decisions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":11320,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[17,5681,5,92],"tags":[34,108,35,55,111,104,39,49,103,101],"class_list":["post-11296","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-budgeting","category-getting-started","category-saving","category-tips","tag-budgeting","tag-budgeting-basics","tag-financial-education","tag-financial-goals","tag-financial-plan","tag-managing-your-money","tag-saving","tag-spending","tag-starting-out","tag-tools-calculators"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.discover.com\/online-banking\/banking-topics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11296","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.discover.com\/online-banking\/banking-topics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.discover.com\/online-banking\/banking-topics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.discover.com\/online-banking\/banking-topics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.discover.com\/online-banking\/banking-topics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11296"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/www.discover.com\/online-banking\/banking-topics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11296\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22518,"href":"https:\/\/www.discover.com\/online-banking\/banking-topics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11296\/revisions\/22518"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.discover.com\/online-banking\/banking-topics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11320"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.discover.com\/online-banking\/banking-topics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11296"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.discover.com\/online-banking\/banking-topics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11296"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.discover.com\/online-banking\/banking-topics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11296"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}