Money—the lack of it, the fear of losing it, the dread of not having enough—tops the list of concerns of many people these days. We’re more debt-ridden than any generation before. Some of us tie ourselves up with such notions as “Having money and leading a spiritual life are contradictions.” We let our feelings of scarcity color our decisions, even if we have plenty of money!

The bottom line is that our unspoken attitudes and ideas about money may be getting in the way of a sense of well being and security in our lives. Take this Thriving quiz to learn more about your relationship with money.

True	False
		1. I have no idea where my money goes every month. I just don't think about money.
		2. I act as if I have plenty of money, but inside, I’m always worried that I don’t have enough, even to meet my monthly bills.
		3. I have no idea where I got my attitudes about money.
		4. I feel ashamed about having more money than my friends (or less than); if they found out, I’m afraid they wouldn’t like me.
		5. It seems like I’m always comparing my financial situation with others’; no matter how much I actually have, I always feel like I come up short.
		6. I’m embarrassed about the amount of debt I owe; I would never talk about it with any of my friends or acquaintances.
		7. No matter how much money I actually have, I’m secretly afraid I will lose everything and become a homeless person.
		8. I’m too busy at work to deal with my money. I just don’t have the time.
		9. I’m clueless about money; I don’t even know the right questions to ask. My financial advisor just tells me what to do with my money.
		10. I keep having to use a credit card to cover my monthly bills.
		11. I worry that I will never be able to make it financially if my spouse leaves me or dies.
		12. I’ll always have to do without, so I might as well get used to it. I can never really have what I want.
		13. My body gets tense when monthly bill-paying time rolls around or when contemplating a large purchase.
		14. It’s hard to face, or even think about, people to whom I owe money.
		15. I use money to punish or reward myself.
		16. As a rule, I always buy the most inexpensive item. For example, though I think Ben & Jerry’s ice cream tastes the best, I buy the cheapest brand at the drug store. It’s frivolous to spend extra money for good taste.
		17. Having money means having control.

Your Score

True: False:

If you answered true to even five of the above questions, you may want to explore your beliefs around money. By better understanding your attitudes and values toward money, you may be more able to gain control of money instead of it controlling you. Please don't hesitate to call if you would like to discuss your relationship with money.