I saw someone re-share this old quiz we had featured here in the past, and thought it would make for a fun re-posting and seeing how we’ve changed over the years :)
If you remember this from back in the day, re-take it and see if you’re doing better now! If this is the first time you’re seeing it, take it too and then see how it makes you feel afterwards.
Depending on how you answer, it’ll mean you’re either a Warren Buffett, MC Hammer, or Macaulay Culkin, haha… At least according to CO-OPCreditUnions.org who devised this fun little ditty.
Here we go…. Answer “Always”, “Sometimes,” or “Never” for each of the following statements, and then see below for the answer key. Come on Warren Buffett, come on Warren Buffett!!
The “2-Minute Financial Assessment”
#1. I pay my bills on time.
Always! One of the only things in our life we have control over…
#2. I save 10% or more of my income each month.
Always! Though I do it at the end of the *year* usually vs monthly, but only because I’m self-employed and never know what the year will have in store… I much prefer Dollar Cost Averaging!
#3. I keep three months net income in a “rainy-day fund.”
Sometimes. This last year we’ve had a bit TOO much stashed away, but the three years prior we were definitely on the Struggle Train. I give anyone mad respect for being able to say they *always* have a cushion here! It’s not easy to do!
#4. I plan ahead and save for large expenses.
Never. This is one of my weaknesses, haha… Two years ago it looks like I put down “Sometimes”, but I’m pretty sure I was kidding myself ;) I just can’t ever wrap my head around the future! It’s always changing!
#5. I set and keep financial goals for myself on a regular basis.
Sometimes. I only have ONE main financial goal every year – to max out my retirement accounts. Anything outside of that is extra, and since most times there is nothing much else to invest/save, it usually stops at that :) So I do technically make finance goals, but since they’re always the same one year after year I don’t think it counts all the way…
#6. I follow a set budget each month.
Not anymore! Haha… Net Worth tracking is the new budgeting – didn’t you hear??? ;)
#7. I shop around and compare prices before making a major purchase.
I Always do this… Sometimes to my own annoyance when you should just pick something that’s 80% good and not waste 13 and 1/2 hours trying to save myself $0.50, ugh… Using the honey button at least speeds it up while *online* shopping.
#8. Regularly check my credit report.
Haha, yes. But only because it’s always right in front of me when I log onto USAA or get emails from Credit Karma about my score every month :) I tend not to dwell on it too much if I’m not in the market to take on new debt anytime soon… (and I’ve also got it to where I want it to be – in the 800’s – so I’m out of that “let’s improve our credit score” stage. Something I highly advise focusing on if you haven’t already so you don’t have to worry about it anymore either!)
UPDATE: I read this as “check my credit SCORE” not “credit REPORT” – oops! So I actually lose another point here as I haven’t done that in quite a while either (bad blogger!). And there’s really no excuse for it as you can get these FOR FREE once a year at AnnualCreditReport.com (it sounds scammy but it’s legit). Always good to monitor this stuff in case something funky shows up on it!
#9. I examine my checking account statements each month.
Always. And credit score statements, business account statements, savings, investments, retirement accounts, 529s, net worth reports and even my snazzy coin collection. Never know when one of those guys will get up and sneak away on you! I pay attention to all my monies!!
#10. I look for ways to become more financially aware and educated on a regular basis.
PS: If you don’t answer “Always” on this I’ll know you don’t read my blog every day ;)
*******
How’d you do?? Mostly good? Some trouble spots here and there?
Well if you got a majority of them good you’re channeling Warren Buffett up in here, half or more points in your favor will make you MC Hammer, and then if you REALLY failed the assessment you’re a Macaulay Culkin, haha… Why, I don’t know, (Home Alone was da bomb!) but I’m not in charge of such things ;)
Answer key:
(2 points for every “Always”, 1 point for every “Sometimes”, 0 points for each “Never”)
- 15 points and up = Warren Buffett!
- 10 to 14 points = MC Hammer (I feel like he should be last? Didn’t he go bankrupt??)
- 9 or less points = Macaulay Culkin
It looks like I’ve fallen from Warren Buffett to MC Hammer over the past two years!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!
*******
Original posting of this, with my (apparently better) answers, here: Could You Pass This $$$ Quiz? If you were around in 2016, check out the comment section and see how you compare too!
[Spreadsheet shirt up top can be found at TeeSpring!]
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Who knew it was this easy to be Warren Buffet? Probably my only chance to be in that category. :) Thanks! That was fun. I always struggle with keeping enough cash around too. I am very risk tolerant, but Mr. ThreeYear would probably appreciate a little more cushion sometimes. Happy Monday, J!!
Happy Monday!
I guess me and Warren are besties, and drinking buddies too! And thanks for reminding me that sometimes my emergency fund is probably too big
I’m just barely a Warren Buffet, but I’m being really generous with my self examination to land there. Fun quiz, I missed it the first time around.
I’m a Warren Buffet apparently :P I just don’t check my credit score, since we don’t really have this in Switzerland. And I don’t always compare all the options when buying (especially in Tech stuff).
Interesting about not having credit scores there!! How do lenders evaluate y’all? Do they all have their separate methods? I bet it’s nice for all those who are great with money but never taken out debts before, unlike here where it hurts you even though it shouldn’t! :)
Hey J – As I’m sure you know checking your credit report isn’t usually the same as checking your credit score. Credit report checks are typically performed to look for discrepancies in information gathered by the three agencies. You have to request the reports and then view the information they’ve gathered. Of course, checking the report ensures an accurate credit score. So they go hand in hand but they aren’t exactly the same thing.
Ack – yes! Totally misread that! Just went and updated the post, thank for bringing it up! :)
Ohhh ok. Too early. Okay, we’re 15/15. Where’s my trophy!!!
Too generous! We’re 14.5. I don’t think we analyze our credit reports or care too much but we do do it. I’m top grade MC Hammer!
I scored a 19. I don’t look at my credit report often. Maybe I should to check for any ID theft though.
Not sure how great the questions are on this. What if I was FI and spending of my income? Id get no points on the savings question and I’d have already won the game IRL.
That’s actually how you unlock the secret level of “Baller!” ;)
Woot! 19! Knocked by the credit report part of the quiz. I usually am pretty good about getting our credit reports but I can’t remember the last time I checked. …Should really get on that.
I do get 2 different reporting agency credit scores thanks to our two credit cards :D
I got 16 out of 20 haha. Yes to a of the above except 6 and 8.
We don’t do a monthly budget since we are PF pros job :p we don’t check our credit report often since we think it’s not necessary. Maybe we should though ;)
I am a Warren Buffett. I answered always to every question except #9 because I don’t check my credit score (it costs money and I’m cheap!)
Credit Karma will give you your credit score free every month. Joining is also free. No strings attached.
Ahh, I love the shirt. I wonder if there is a shirt for “do you have a budget for that?”
For me I have never really used a monthly or annual budget. However, I have been tracking my net worth for about ten years now. I prefer to maintain an uptrend in my net worth rather than trying to restrict myself with what I can spend. As long as I more this year than last, then I think that I am on the right track.
We made shirts years ago that said “I’m bringing budgets back”, but I do like your idea of having a budget for that ;)
https://budgetsaresexy.com/im-bringing-budgets-back-t-shirt-for-sale/
I got Warren Buffet barely at 15 points! I love that shirt!
I’ve paid bills before I receive them in the mail. It’s always a hoot to get a bill in the mail you paid a couple days ago. I just stay on top of things a bit too much.
Bad ass!
I’m Warren Buffet, baby! I totally struggle with researching to save money, though – like, I value my time at xx dollars per hour, but then I go and spend 2 hours research ways to save $1.83 on some big purchase we’re making. I need to find the balance of “good enough” so that I can spend my time where it matters.
Looks like it’s Hammertime for me!
Some of these are a little silly. I only use my checking account to pay my mortgage, so I guess I technically check it but it hardly deserves the same weight as saving (only 10 percent? Pshaw!). I boosted my credit score when I bought a house, but since then I haven’t given it a second thought since I don’t plan to borrow anything (and I can always boost it up higher if need be). And like you I track spending vs following a budget.
But such is the nature of silly internet quizzes. Bring on the parachute pants!
Best 3 minutes of your day though, right? :)
Hey, I love me a silly internet quizzes! I especially like Buzzfeed’s pop culture quizzes about celebrities I know nothing about. Always interesting results!
I scored 15/20 so I juuuuuust made it into Warren Buffet territory. I feel good about that but it needs to be better.
This was a fun way to spend a part of the evening. Thanks :-) For those who care:
1) Always – Back in the “dark ages” I would play the, “which bill REALLY needs to get paid today”, but in my wiser days, I never miss a bill. The stress of missing a payment wouldn’t let me sleep for weeks.
2) Always – We are consistently at 35-40% of gross. I’d love to get that up to 50-60%, but honestly, neither my wife nor I currently have it in us. If we can get some more passive income streams than maybe, but we are on a good balance of frugal vs enjoyment. And yeah, DCA rocks. We take the same amount out every month at the same time and put it in the brokerage account. That, and all pre-tax stuff goes straight to retirement (401k and IRAs). If there is extra it may go there too or to some other more “exotic” investment, but rain or shine, that fixed amount goes in.
3) Always – But I think I need to qualify that. Rainy-day means cash or equities not designated for long-term holding. If we get too much in the bank, it’ll go into some type of ultra short term fixed-interest or a fixed-interest etf or something that we don’t mind liquidating if something comes up. Cash in the bank is tough right now. Add inflation and you are losing money.
4) Always – Ask my wife, I hate making big purchases. I can nickel and dime my way to the poor house, but it will take me a year or more to buy a car. Weird. So this Always is to a fault.
5) Always – We have so many goals it hurts. Monthly savings, yearly NW growth, 5yr projections, FIRE goal, inheritance (for the kiddos) goal, and on and on. I love spread sheets. They make obsessive goal setting and tracking far easier.
6) Sometimes – We have a yearly budget that is fixed at the beginning of the year and then we use an adjusted budget that tracks 3m averages of actual expenses versus the yearly budget. As you mentioned, NW tracking is the biggie. If we are in the ballpark for expenses it is usually fine. The savings number is the important one.
7) Always – OMG, between my wife and I we could do this for a living. I have excel on my phone and, true story, I did a quick spreadsheet in the grocery store of spinach prices by store and by weight or packaged. It was awesome.
8) Always – I had s**tty credit for some time and I protect my now, “excellent” score like a third child.
9) Always – I use my checking account and credit card statements to develop actuals for that 3m budgeting. See #6.
10) Always – Come on… I am reading, and responding in length, to a financial quiz on a blog called budgetsaresexy. So yeah, I’m lookin’.
Yes. I have problems, but I’m not the only one :-) Thanks for the fun quiz and making us think!- FS
Spinach calculating – hah!
I think you need to copy/paste this into your own blog so your readers know how impressive you are ;)
I don’t know about impressive, but I posted it anyway so my reader(s) have something to entertain themselves with! Keep enjoying life! – FS
Question: why do you need to check your annual report if you have credit karma? If anything new pops up, wouldn’t it show up on KC and you would see your score tank?
Probably yeah – but still good idea to monitor it just in case :) Plus things can probably happen that *doesn’t* affect your score much but you could catch scanning the report before it turns into something worse! There’s also a lot of mistakes that happen with them, so even if you don’t do it yearly, it’s good to at least do *once* to make sure it’s all accurate…
I am in the Warren Buffet level….barely. Got 15 points from the quiz. I’m like you J, I don’t need to budget my money anymore but really helped to do it when in debt.
Fun quiz, thanks dude!!
Thanks for playing along :)