Money habits that lead to arguments

It's well known that money can lead to disagreements between married couples. But what kind of financial habits are more likely to lead to an argument?

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What's your Financial Fitness Score?

Answer the questions below to determine your overall Personal Financial Fitness score. You must answer the questions below honestly to determine an accurate assessment. If your finances are combined with someone else’s we strongly recommend completing this independently and then compare your answers. We do not collect or ask for any personal identifying information.

  1. What percentage of your income have you saved during the last 6 months?
    10% or more
    Less than 10%
    None

  2. How many times during the last six months have one of your credit cards or store cards reached its maximum limit?
    None
    1 to 2
    3 or more

  3. How many times during the last 6 months has one of your bank accounts been overdrawn?
    None
    1 to 2
    3 or more

  4. How many times during the last six months has a bill been paid late?
    None
    1 to 5
    6 or more

  5. How many credit cards and/or store cards do you currently have for personal use?
    3 or less
    4 to 6
    7 or more

  6. If you lost your primary source of income, how many months could you provide for all of your basic needs and meet each of your financial obligations?
    3 or more
    1 to 3
    Less than 1

  7. When a credit card or store card is used to make a purchase, how often is the entire balance paid the following month?
    Always
    Sometimes
    Never

  8. If a major appliance or repair, auto repair, or home repair were suddenly required, what source of money would be used to pay for it?
    Funds already on hand
    Funds from available credit
    No funds available without establishing additional credit

  9. If you are single, how frequently during the last 6 months have you spent time reviewing your financial situation and making financial decisions? If you have a partner, how frequently during the last 6 months have you spent time with your partner reviewing your joint financial situation and making joint financial decisions?
    Weekly
    Monthly
    Rarely or not at all

  10. How many times during the last year have you spent time with your partner reviewing your retirement plan? If you are single, how many times have you spent time reviewing your own retirement plan?
    One or more
    None
    I don’t have a retirement plan

  11. Have you created a written spending plan (budget) during the last 12 months?
    Yes
    I have a spending plan, but it is not written out
    I’ve never even thought about creating a spending plan

  12. How often is a monthly spending plan used to manage your household spending?
    Almost always
    Sometimes
    Rarely to never

  13. What information do you use most often to determine if regular household purchases can be made?
    The balance remaining in the budget
    The balance remaining in a bank account, credit card or store card
    Little or no information – I don’t even think twice about it

  14. The insurance I have to cover the loss of major assets including Real Estate, Autos, and Personal Property is:
    Enough to cover the replacement cost
    Less than enough to cover the replacement cost
    An amount that I’m unsure about or don’t have coverage

  15. The insurance I have to cover the loss of life is:
    Enough to cover internment costs and replace my income for remaining dependents
    Enough to cover internment costs but not enough to adequately replace my income for remaining dependents
    An amount that I’m unsure about or I don’t have coverage

  16. The insurance I have to cover a disability is:
    Enough to adequately replace my current income
    Less than enough to adequately replace my current income
    An amount that I’m unsure about or I don’t have coverage

  17. The last time a major purchase was made, the primary consideration was:
    The total purchase price relative to available funds
    The monthly payment relative to available cash flow
    The monthly payment without a complete understanding of its impact

  18. Major purchases are:
    Planned and saved for
    Planned but not adequately saved for
    Unplanned and completely spontaneous

  19. How often do you check to make sure you have adequate funds in your bank account(s)?
    Rarely since I always have adequate funds
    Weekly
    Almost daily

  20. How often are issues related to finances the root of conflict in your household?
    Rarely if ever
    A few times a month
    Too many to count

  21. How is your overall financial situation this year compared with last year at this time?
    Better
    About the same
    Worse

  22. When I think about my ability to meet future financial obligations for major items (education, child care, housing, etc.) I am:
    Completely at ease
    Moderately concerned
    Very concerned

  23. When I think about my ability to meet future financial obligations and maintain an acceptable lifestyle at retirement, I am:
    Completely at ease
    Moderately concerned
    Very concerned

  24. My approach to personal financial management is:
    Proactive – most things are managed according to a plan
    Reactive – the squeaky wheel gets the grease
    Avoidance – if I don’t think about it, perhaps it will go away

  25. When I think about my level of personal financial stability I feel:
    Financially stable
    Moderate to weak
    Desperate to out of control
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