ARE YOU A SQUANDERER OR A SQUIRREL?

Some people are sensible when they shop.
For others, the siren call of the shops is simply too much to bear.
Whether you are a squanderer or a squirrel will determine so much about the way you live.
So which one are you?
Take the quiz to find out.

1. It’s payday, what’s the first thing you spend money on? a) Paying bills and putting money aside for the future. b) A treat to celebrate pay day. c) The minimum credit card repayment.	4. When a new phone/games console/tablet is released, what do you think? a) I’ll consider all the options later, when my current one needs replacing and I have saved enough to buy it. b) I’d love one. What can I make from selling my old one? c) I definitely need it now.
2. What do you think of “retail therapy”? a) People use it as an excuse to spend money on unnecessary things. b) It is a great way to get in a happy mood, but I have made one or two purchases I regret. c) I do so much of it that I could teach it.	5. How long do you save for Christmas? a) All year: I set something aside every month. b) I try to save in October and November, but it doesn’t always work out that way. c) Save? I’m still paying off the debts from last year.
3. Something catches your eye while you’re out shopping, what do you do? a) Walk away and wait a day, considering carefully if this is something you really need. b) Buy it, but feel guilty about it. c) Snap it up before it goes, you can worry about the cost later.	6. How much debt do you have? a) Just my mortgage and I’m doing my best to pay that off as quickly as possible. b) More than I’d like, but everyone goes into debt occasionally, don’t they? c) I have no idea, but probably quite a lot.
RESULTS Mostly As: You are a squirrel! You can go straight to the top of the sensible financial planning class. You save for things, plan for the future and make reasonable choices about everything you spend money on. Keep it up! Mostly Bs: You try to be like the squirrel, but there is a squanderer inside you. Don’t feel bad about this, because it’s how most people live. Use your self-control a bit more! Mostly Cs: You are a real squanderer! You buy what you want, when you want it. However, unless you happen to have been born into fabulous wealth or have won the lottery, there’s a serious risk that you have a growing debt problem. Be careful!