Take our quiz to find out what kind of saver you are and get ideas to maximize your savings.
Whether you’re aiming to take a vacation, buy a new car or retire comfortably, it’s important to have some money set aside. But as a Harvard Business School savings expert notes, there’s no “one-size-fits-all savings solution.” Take our quiz to find out your savings style and get personalized tips on how you could save more effectively.
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Your savings style is: Frugal
You’re a saver who takes pleasure in organizing their savings and watching them grow. You set financial goals and have a plan for reaching them. To maximize your savings:
- Make sure you have a few short-term savings goals along with long-term ones, or set short-term milestones for the long-term goals. A study published in Psychological Science found that people started saving earlier (and saved more) when they thought of their savings deadlines in terms of days, not months or years.
- Be proud of your savings. Telling family and friends about your goals not only means they can help hold you accountable, but your enthusiasm for saving might inspire someone else to take charge of their own finances.
Your savings style is: Investor
You’re someone who would rather pay for quality now and save money in the long run. You’re a savvy shopper who enjoys researching purchases and you know the value of a good vacation. To maximize your savings:
- Turn savings into a gift for others. Start a tradition of buying bonds for children on their birthdays or simply making regular contributions to an account in their name. A Harvard Business School study found that people invested more in savings bonds when buying them for children or grandchildren—possibly because buying bonds for someone else reframed the less-exciting act of saving as the more-exciting prospect of “giving a gift.”
- Try going all-cash for a month or two to get a more concrete idea of your spending. Without the ease of plastic, you’ll be more conscious of each purchase you make (and may find you have a little more than usual left over at the end of that period).
Your savings style is: Thrifty
You’re someone who saves a lot by virtue of simply not spending money. You have a clear idea of your wants versus your needs and are able to resist the immediate thrill of a sale. To maximize your savings:
- Suspend your self-control occasionally and, say, treat yourself to a nice dinner if you’ve already sprung for a vacation. (Studies have shown that experiences make us happier than things, so you’re getting great value for the money spent on that dinner.) If you focus too much on just not spending money, you’ll miss out on one of life’s great pleasures: splurging every once in a while.
- Be active about saving instead of trusting that your conservative spending habits will always leave you with something left over. Studies have shown that people actually save more when they have specific goals in mind, like buying a car or remodeling a house, and purposefully set funds aside to meet those goals.
Did you know you could save 15% or more on your car insurance with GEICO? Get a quick insurance quote using our online tool today.
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Question 1 of 8
1. Question
1) How do you keep track of your spending?
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Question 2 of 8
2. Question
2) You notice the springs are poking out of your sofa. What do you do?
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Question 3 of 8
3. Question
3) How much of your salary will you save this year?
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Question 4 of 8
4. Question
4) You just bought a new outfit last week, but now your favorite store is having a 50% off sale. Do you buy something?
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Question 5 of 8
5. Question
5) How are you saving for retirement?
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Question 6 of 8
6. Question
6) Many financial experts recommend having an emergency fund equivalent to a few months’ salary. Where do you keep yours?
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Question 7 of 8
7. Question
7) Imagine your first child is about to turn three. If you’re honest with yourself, what’s your college savings situation?
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Question 8 of 8
8. Question
8) You’re on vacation and looking for a place to eat dinner. You choose:
A simple way to jump-start your savings? Saving money with GEICO. Click here to learn more about available insurance discounts.
Read more: Need some more help getting your savings in order? Check out 4 Simple Ways to Save for the Future.
DOROTHY Laing says,
Also save change in jar
Robert L Hiatt says,
Presents a Very Good View of ‘Modern Society’.
Last time I went in to debt was summer of 1951: bought my 2nd car: a nice 47, 4-door
Plymouth. Had it financed for 12 months; payed it off in 6. Was born at depth of depression (1932). Dropped outta school after 2nd yr of HighS. Never experienced
debt or unemployment. Bought my parents a very decent house in 1958 Cash. Also
began my 1st mutual fund fund investment that year, and continued until retiring in 2006.
Am independently weathy; no respect for higher education. Have bailed out too many irresponsible know-it-all coll-grad relatives of my wife. My Only financial gripe is that
my IRMA is eating-up my Social Security. And IF you don’t knows what IRMA is, you shud
be in another line of work! Have been Quite Happy with your service over the years!
MJ Curry says,
not everyone has children; not everyone has relatives who send checks. Your assumptions are heteronormative and elitist.
Latisha Darling says,
GEICO is great but being disabled , I work from home, can actually lower my monthly payments?☺
carlos abraham pacheco says,
I am retired my income is from my Social Sec. Payment. Low Income.
Rubicundus Revilla says,
Any hard working ,successful individual has a common enemy ; the governnent. The more you work, the more you save, the more you reinvent yourself, the more it forces you to pay. Just one example…I’ve paid for Medicare ALL my working life…today, on Medicare, I am paying $609.00/ month and still have copayments. If you are single (widower, divorced, never married) the government punishes you by doubling your taxes and your Medicare fees. Effectively, one person using the system subsidizes the rest by paying twice what two people using the system pay. More you save more you promote laziness and dependency.
Hardwich Wielingen says,
Geico is the best of all!
James David Rogers says,
My wife and I do not save anything our bills are more than we make
Kimberly says,
I’m a single mother and I feel the same way.
Vincent Santiago says,
I’m already retired.
John D. says,
Came to U.S. at age 10 from Italy in 1956, got my 1st job age 11, when I graduated University of Michigan in 1968, I had $3200, (1968 dollars), saved in bank and had paid for that 4 yr. degree by working in auto plants in the summers and playing in bands during school. I’m now 72 yrs. old, retired, with 7 figures invested in the markets. this is a Great Country still full of opportunities.
Christine says,
Thank you for sharing your story. I am trying to teach my children this value as they are in college and working or even volunteering to build their resume. I’m learning too and this is inspiring.
FASLINE JOSEPH says,
How do I buy bonds for my children
Thank You, Mr. Ramsey says,
Seems like more and more companies are beginning to take heed to the teachings of Mr. Dave Ramsey and Ramsey Solutions. … Live Like No One Else So Later You Can Live Like No One Else.
Corvette cooper says,
It was 8 of us in our home and my mom took us to the GOODWILL or marcus and got us nice cheap clothes .. you never complained about anything she made sure we had what we needed NOT what we wanted.. Christmas was always great we all got one gift and a shoe box full of Apple’s oranges candy and mixed nuts. We were really happy..
Rhodesia says,
My mom and dad had 3 children in three years My sister who was the oldest got most of the new clothes, I got her hand me downs and my sister one year younger than me got my hand me downs. We didn’t care about the clothes we wore as long as they were clean, and they had no holes. My grand mother who lived with us, would take us on 3 mile walks to shop at the five and dime discount stores downtown, Along the walk when my grand mother would see a penny on the street, she would say there’s a penny, you can buy a cookie, gum, or candy with it. So it became a game of who could find the most pennies on the walk. Me and my sisters had school savings account. We were given allowances which we put in piggy banks. At the age of 14 I started a side job making signs for homes, and drawing illustrations. At 16 I knew how to make my own silk screens to print T-shirts.We were raised to understand the importance of hard work, an a good education , which included us attaining a College degree, so that we would become productive and progressive individuals in our communities. I got my first city job right after college ,and I purchased my first used car cash in my mid 20’s. after passing a promotional test. In my late 20’s I purchased my first new car also cash. That new car lasted me almost 20 years. My newest car that I purchased 3 and 1 half years ago was also purchased cash. through AARP’s true car buyer program , which saved me an additional $2,600 along with the end of year labor day sale discount. I always wanted to have full ownership of my autos. I wasn’t going to share ownership with a bank or a finance company. I retired 10 years ago after being promoted to a supervisory position. I volunteer as a AARP committee chair, a breast/ovarian cancer organization where I do presentations and a soup kitchen where I, and a group of women/angels prepare and serve breakfast once a week with my mom, I help at my church when needed. I always give my 10% tithes to my church . I give annually to 12 charities that are near and dear to my heart a donation of at least $250 to each charity. God has been good to me, and provided well for me, and because of this I have been able to help family and friends when needed. The very people in my past who said I was frugal, are either broke and claiming bankruptcy or are asking me for money. By God’s grace and mercy I am the lender and never the borrower. I have never had an outstanding debt that I couldn’t pay and that gives me a peace unlike any other. I enjoy my life vacation traveling and cruising, I just make sure I get great discount deals. Give me a hammer, nails ,some duct tape or electrical tape, and a glue gun and I can fix anything.I have always permed, colored and cut my own hair as I have also done the same for my closest family members my family members .I even do my own professional looking nail tips. I have been blessed with friends in auto and towing repair shops.I sometimes have to pay them in lobster, steak and shrimp dinners when they don’t want to take my money.Sorry for the length of this post .Merry Christmas and have a Happy New Year.
NL says,
Wow! Your story is inspiring. I hope to reach tuat level of financial peace some day.
Toni Lizana says,
What an amazing testimony! I love your story. God bless you!