What’s Your Money Personality? A Kind, Curious Look at How We Relate to Money

When it comes to money, we all have our own stories, patterns, and emotional habits. These aren’t just based on our adult experiences. They often take root long before we earn or spend our own money.

Our earliest ideas about money form through quiet observation. We absorb beliefs by watching how the adults around us handle (or avoid) money. By the time we’re seven, many of our foundational money habits are already in place. Research from the University of Cambridge found that children can understand basic financial concepts by age three. By seven, their core money behaviours like planning, delaying gratification, and understanding value are already developing.

You might not remember them clearly, but early experiences around money can shape your feelings and behaviours for decades. These moments don’t always seem significant at the time, but they stay with you.

Maybe a parent lost their job, and suddenly, the atmosphere at home changed. Money became something stressful or off-limits. Or perhaps you were told — directly or in passing — that people with money were greedy or selfish, so now part of you feels uneasy about wanting financial success. You might have overheard arguments about money or seen one parent hiding spending from the other.

Some people grew up in a household where money disappeared as quickly as it came in. That can lead to a pattern of overspending or anxiety around holding onto savings. Others were praised for being “sensible” with money and now find it difficult to spend on themselves, even when they can afford to. Spending might feel wasteful, indulgent or hard to justify.

And then there’s money trauma, which isn’t always dramatic but still runs deep. Growing up in debt, not knowing if the rent or mortgage would be paid, being asked to contribute financially before you’re ready, watching a loved one lose their business, or even growing up in a home where money was never discussed. That silence can leave you feeling unprepared or ashamed for not knowing “how to do it properly” as an adult.

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Financial Stress: Research indicates that traumatic events before the age of 18, known as ACEs, are linked to increased financial stress in adulthood. This connection suggests that early-life traumas can lead to financial challenges later in life.

None of this means you're broken. These experiences shape the stories we tell ourselves about money — and those stories often need a bit of unpicking before we can move forward with more clarity and confidence.

These messages become part of your money identity, not because you chose them, but because you internalise them, often without realising them.

And that’s what we mean when we talk about your money personality, money beliefs or money stories. The emotional and behavioural patterns shape how you earn, spend, save, give, and invest.

Why your money personality matters

Most of us already know what we “should” do with money: Spend less than we earn, put something aside for the future, and monitor our outgoings.

But knowing something intellectually doesn’t mean we do it consistently, especially when money brings up fear, guilt, overwhelm or discomfort.

Your money personality helps explain the why behind your patterns. It can highlight the hidden drivers influencing your decisions, from undercharging to avoiding your bank statements to buying things you don’t want.

Getting to know your money personality isn’t about boxing yourself in. It’s about gaining insight. When you understand your patterns, you can start to work with them, not fight against them.

You’re probably a mix (and that’s OK)

We’re all complex and ever-evolving, and many carry a mix of traits. You might lean strongly towards one money personality or find that different aspects show up in different parts of your life. For example, you might be cautious with personal spending but take significant risks in business or feel generous with others but avoid spending on yourself.

These patterns can also shift over time, depending on your experiences, income level, responsibilities, or even your stage of life.

There’s no single “correct” type. It’s not about fitting neatly into a box. What matters is recognising the tendencies that show up for you and learning how to use them well while gently expanding your capacity in the areas that feel more challenging.

A quick self-assessment quiz

Below are five sets of statements. Read each one and see which set feels most like you. You might relate to more than one, but try to notice where your dominant tendencies lie.

Set A

• I feel most comfortable knowing exactly what’s coming in and going out.
• I track or monitor my spending.
• I find it difficult to relax around money or make spontaneous financial decisions.
• I feel anxious if I don’t have a financial plan or straightforward structure.

Set B

• I often avoid checking my bank account or looking at the numbers.
• I feel overwhelmed when it comes to budgeting or planning.
• I sometimes spend reactively or without thinking it through.
• I want to feel more in control but don’t know where to start.

Set C

• I love giving to others and supporting causes or people I care about.
• I often undercharge or over-deliver in my business.
• I feel uncomfortable spending money on myself.
• I want to be generous, but sometimes I worry I’m not looking after my own needs.

Set D

• Money is a tool for growth and opportunity.
• I enjoy investing in myself, my learning and my future.
• I’m good at taking financial risks but sometimes forget to check the numbers.
• I believe things will work out, even if I don’t have a clear plan.

Set E

• I value safety, security and predictability when it comes to money.
• I am cautious or risk-averse with financial decisions.
• I’m a diligent saver, but I can find it hard to spend, even when I can afford it.
• I want to feel more confident in making bold financial moves.

Your result

If you answered mostly:

• As: You’re likely a Thoughtful Planner
• Bs: You’re likely a Gentle Protector
• Cs: You’re likely a Heart-Led Giver
• Ds: You’re likely an Expansive Visionary
• Es: You’re likely a Steady Guardian

Remember, you may see parts of yourself in multiple sets, and that’s normal. This isn’t about boxing yourself in. It’s about building awareness.

How to use your money personality as a strength

Every type has something to offer. None of them are “bad” or something to fix. The key is to build awareness, understand how your patterns serve you, and gently stretch into new habits where they’re helpful.

Thoughtful Planner

Your strength: Creating clarity, order, and security
What to watch for: Over-controlling, fear of change or uncertainty
Try asking yourself: Where could I welcome more flexibility, without losing the structure that grounds me?

You feel most confident when you know exactly where your money’s going. Spreadsheets, systems, and structure give you peace of mind, and you're often the one others turn to for financial advice. Your natural strength is bringing order to chaos. The challenge is letting go. Unexpected bills or periods of uncertainty can feel deeply unsettling, and you might struggle to invest in things that don’t have guaranteed outcomes. Expanding your comfort zone slowly, in ways that still honour your need for safety, can unlock new possibilities.

Gentle Protector

Your strength: Deep emotional intuition and self-preservation
What to watch for: Disconnection, avoidance of practical details
Try asking yourself: What would feel like one safe, manageable way to face something I’ve been avoiding?

You’re not lazy or disorganised, you’re sensitive. And money, with all its emotional layers, can sometimes feel too overwhelming to engage with directly. Avoidance is often your nervous system’s way of protecting you from discomfort or shame. You might have had past experiences that made you feel judged, incapable, or confused about finances. Your gift is your intuition. With the right kind support and gentle steps, you can create a money system that feels safe and empowering, without pressure or perfectionism.

Heart-Led Giver

Your strength: Generosity, empathy, and values-driven choices
What to watch for: Self-neglect, blurred boundaries
Try asking yourself: What would it look like to support others and honour my own needs with love?

You lead with compassion. Money, to you, is a tool for connection, care, and contribution. You may find it easy to give, but harder to receive, whether that’s charging your worth, setting financial boundaries, or treating yourself with the same generosity you offer others. Your giving nature is a strength, and you don’t need to change it. But creating stronger boundaries allows you to give from a place of wholeness, rather than depletion. You deserve care too.

Expansive Visionary

Your strength: Big-picture thinking, boldness, and belief in possibility
What to watch for: Impulsivity, overlooking the practical details
Try asking yourself: Where could I add just enough structure to support my vision?

You’re a future-focused thinker. You believe in potential, you invest in growth, and you trust that things will work out. You likely see money as energy or opportunity, and you’re willing to take risks, which can be powerful. At the same time, you may resist systems, planning or financial admin, which can lead to avoidable stress. Adding a bit more grounding to your vision, whether that’s a buffer fund, a budget, or a second opinion, can help your ideas flourish sustainably.

Steady Guardian

Your strength: Long-term thinking, stability, and protection
What to watch for: Over-caution, fear-based decision making
Try asking yourself: What does “safe expansion” look like for me right now?

You’re wise, measured, and deeply tuned into security. You likely have savings, contingency plans, and a strong sense of financial responsibility. You may be the financial anchor for your family or team. Your challenge is knowing when it’s time to use the resources you’ve built, to enjoy life, take opportunities, or invest in your future. Risk isn’t the opposite of safety, and with the right support, you can make bolder choices that still feel aligned with your values.

Getting curious, not critical

If you’ve ever thought “I should be better with money” or felt embarrassed about your earning, spending or saving, you’re not alone.

But shame isn’t a strategy. And being hard on yourself doesn’t lead to long-term change.

What does help is curiosity.

• What did you learn about money growing up?
• How was it talked about in your household, or not talked about?
• What patterns do you notice now in how you handle money?
• What makes you feel safe, empowered or proud, and what triggers guilt, stress or avoidance?

These are big questions. But the more gently you can notice what’s there, the more space you create to shift what’s no longer serving you.