Money Style

WORKSHEET

otherwise qualified professional. The CFPB is not responsible for the advice or actions of individuals or entities from which you

What’s
my family’s
money style?

and information purposes only. It is not a replacement for the guidance or advice of an accountant, certified financial advisor, or
received the CFPB educational materials. The CFPB’s educational efforts are limited to the materials that CFPB has prepared.
This tool may ask you to provide sensitive personal and financial information. The CFPB does not collect any information from you
or the organization using this tool. The CFPB is not responsible and has no control over how others may use the information that
you provide to them about your personal or financial situation. The CFPB recommends that you do not include names or account
numbers and that users follow their organization’s policies regarding retention, storage, and disposal of documents that contain
personal information.
This worksheet includes links or references to third-party resources or content that consumers may find helpful. The Bureau does
not control or guarantee the accuracy of this outside information. The inclusion of links or references to third-party sites does not
necessarily reflect the Bureau’s endorsement of the third-party, the views expressed on the outside site, or products or services
offered on the outside site. The Bureau has not vetted these third-parties, their content, or any products or services they may offer.
There may be other possible entities or resources that are not listed that may also serve your needs.

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• Recognize your
own money style

It’s a way to describe
how you make money
choices. Often, different
family members have
different money styles.
By recognizing similarities
and differences, you can
begin to understand how
individual styles influence
different choices.

Start with one question:

If you had an extra $100,
what would you do with it?

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What’s a money style?

• T
 hink about different
styles and how they
support each other

Consumer Financial
Protection Bureau

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This tool will help you:

• S
 ee how it compares
with the people in
your home

ABOUT THE CFPB
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
is a government agency built to protect
consumers. Our free resources help you
have the information you need to make
informed financial decisions.

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prototype
only— not for
distribution

D I S C L A I M E R The CFPB has prepared this material as a resource for the public. This material is provided for educational

Which ideas best describe
your family’s money style?

YOUR NAME

enjoy

1

Write your name, and the name of each person you’re financially
connected to, in the spaces provided.

2

Draw a line to match each person to the 1 or 2 words that best
describe how he or she makes money choices, or write your own
words in the blanks.

3

Discuss the thought starters below.

NAME OF FAMILY MEMBER

avoid

impulsive

NAME OF FAMILY MEMBER

careful

frugal

NAME OF FAMILY MEMBER

NAME OF FAMILY MEMBER

worried

confident

NAME OF FAMILY MEMBER

Thought starters
Ask yourself, what’s good about the ways in which your family’s
money styles are similar or different? What’s hard about it?

If you could change or combine money styles,
which would you pick for yourself? Why?

WORKSHEET DISCUSSION GUIDE

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What’s my family’s money style?
G U I D I N G T H E C O N V E R S AT I O N

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This worksheet is intended to be completed as part of a conversation between
a practitioner and a client. It is designed to start a conversation and is not
meant to be completed alone.

A money style is about how a person approaches money choices. It
expresses feelings, values, or tendencies around money. For example, you
could enjoy money, worry about it, avoid it, be careful with it, be impulsive
about it, etc.

•

Individuals often have several money styles. Encourage your client to pick
1 or 2 for each person. Two blanks are provided if your client has different
words in mind. Ask your client to describe each style they chose and why.

•

Different money styles can work together, even when they seem to conflict.
This can be true within a person and among people. For example, “enjoy”
can be in harmony with “frugal” when there’s agreement on when and how
money will be spent. Encourage your client to recognize ways in which
different styles can be both helpful and challenging.

RESOURCES

THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND
•

In Step 1, encourage your client to list people he/she is financially
connected to. These may include a spouse and children, or others living
within or outside the home like a parent or grandchild.

Jane

Karen

YOUR NAME

enjoy

William

NAME OF FAMILY MEMBER

avoid

impulsive

Scott

NAME OF FAMILY MEMBER

Sample worksheet

careful

Tyler

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•

Financial decisions are never made in a vacuum. They are influenced by our
feelings and attitudes toward money, and—whether we recognize it or not—by
the financial feelings, attitudes, and behaviors of the family members around us.
This worksheet is intended to guide a conversation between you and your
client about the role family members play in influencing financial behaviors.
By making those connections visible, this 10-minute exercise may spark a new
awareness of their own behaviors and choices, which can lead to new ideas or
strategies to achieve their financial goals.

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frugal

NAME OF FAMILY MEMBER

NAME OF FAMILY MEMBER

worried

confident

Generous

Samantha

NAME OF FAMILY MEMBER

Is this a good tool for your client? This tool is for use with clients who are ready to
explore their relationship to money. It is not advised to use the tool with clients and
families in the middle of crisis, or with families where there is a high level of tension, or
risk of conflict. 
Need to make a referral? Money arguments can be a sign of much deeper issues. If
you are in a situation where you feel unqualified or uncomfortable, refer your client to a
licensed mental health professional or, if feasible, to one with specific training in
financial planning. Please consult with a peer or supervisor right away if you have
questions. One example of a website that may be helpful is the Financial Therapy
Association Network.
www.financialtherapyassociation.org/find-a-ft
Want the theory behind this worksheet? Read the literature review upon which it’s
based. www.SonyaBrittPaperTBD.gov
Want more exercises like this? Check out the CFPB’s Your Money Your Goals toolkit for
more resources and conversation starters.
www.consumerfinance.gov/your-money-your-goals/
Consumer Financial
Protection Bureau