The Money Quiz

Published April 1, 2011

There Are Lessons Everywhere

We learn about money from our parents, family members, friends, and acquaintances. Sometimes, we even learn about money from strangers, or from people we see in movies or the media. Some of the things we learn are helpful and some aren’t. Money has a way of permeating all aspects of our lives. Having money can increase choices. Not having it can simplify life by eliminating them. An investment we make can be good and create all sorts of unexpected opportunities, or it can be bad and end up sucking the life energy out of everything we do.

Choices

How do you handle money? What have you learned about money as you’ve traveled through life? Do you know what your parents or friends wish you knew about money? What do you wish they knew? Are there money decisions you’ve made you now wish had been different? Do you have kids? Do you think they listen when you offer advice about money?

Let’s Talk About Money

The Money Quiz below is a list of questions worth discussing with family and friends as you seek to build a brighter future. Money topics are important to all of us. We all want to make better choices in handling our money, but often the the choices we make are driven by old habits, fears, or by trying to fulfill unmet needs or desires. Why not use this quiz as a way to become more thoughtful and goal driven about money? Or why not use it as a way to talk to your kids, friends, or a significant other about a money topic that’s important to you?

Print Them

Since this is a fairly lengthy list of questions, we’ve prepared a separate PDF file so you can print them out if you like—click here for a printable version.

We hope these questions spark some fuel for thought. We’d be delighted to hear about any of your experiences handling money, or to hear your opinion on a money matter you find particularly interesting. You can share your stories or ideas in the comments below, or you can send us a longer response from our contact page. There’s a good chance we’ll post those, so let us know if you prefer to keep your identity anonymous.

The Money Quiz:

(1) What is the best advice you ever got when it came to a money matter?

(2) What is the worst advice?

(3) If you could make a single change to your financial past, what one thing would you choose to do different?

(4) Large or small, what is the best financial decision you ever made?

(5) Do you feel you have enough money?

(6) Have you ever felt like you’ve had enough money?

(7) Would you know it if you had enough money?

(8) How would you know if you were rich?

(9) Do you want to be rich?

(10) Do you think being rich holds any special obligations?

(11) How would you change your life if money was no longer a concern?

(12) Would you describe yourself as dirt poor, struggling to make it, squeaking by, coping for the most part, doing well for now, affluent, filthy rich or something else? If something else, what?

(13) Describe one of your guilty pleasures…something you allow yourself to splurge on.

(14) If you have children, or when you think of kids, what are some of the things about money you would hope to pass on to them?

(15) Do you feel comfortable handling money and finances?

(16) What would make you feel comfortable handling money and finances?

(17) What stresses you most about money?

(18) Are you comfortable carrying cash?

(19) How much cash on hand is too much?

(20) How do you pay for everyday items? Only with cash? With checks? With a debit or credit card?

(21) If you had a tip for our readers about saving money, what would it be?

(22) Do you fight with your significant other over money?

(23) Do you fight with your kids over money?

(24) How do you go about resolving a fight over money?

(25) What one word that pops into your head when you hear the word money?

(26) Do you control your money or does your money control you?

(27) Who is the most influential person in your life when it comes to money matters?

(28) Do you know anyone you respect for the way they handle money?

(29) What’s the most important lesson about money you learned from your parents?

(30) Have you learned any lessons about money from your kids?

(31) Can you describe your worst financial disaster?

(32) How did you overcome it?

(33) How do you feel about credit cards?

(34) Do you have lots of debt?

(35) Do you feel like you’ll ever get out of debt?

(36) If a friend or family member asked you for money, would you feel obligated to help them?

It seems like everything's dependent on money, or is it?

(37) What’s the most you’d lend a friend or family member?

(38) If you gave yourself a financial goal right now, something large or small you wanted to achieve within one year, what would it be? How about five years?

(39) What portion of your income, if any, should you give to your church and/or to charitable organizations every year?

(40) How much do you tip a waiter at the restaurant? 1-4%, 5-10%, 11-15%, 16-20%, 21% or more.

(41) Do you feel obliged to tip whether the service was good or not?

(42) Is the minimum wage a fair living wage?

(43) What is a fair living wage?

(44) Are you worried about the value of the dollar?

(45) Have you been able to save up enough to cover an emergency?

(46) What’s the best way to save?

(47) Do you own stocks and bonds?

(48) Do you own gold?

(49) If you were given $25,000 in either cash, stocks, bonds or gold, which would you pick if you had to hold on to it a year before you could use it? Why?

(50) Have you or someone you know ever had to declare bankruptcy? How did that feel?