Kaili Killpack
8 min read
Do your emotions drive your financial decisions — or do you stay calm and calculated no matter what's happening in the market or your bank account? According to personal finance expert Suze Orman, understanding the emotional side of money is one of the most powerful steps you can take toward long-term financial security.
On a recent episode of her "Women & Money" podcast, Orman introduced listeners to the "Emotional Money Score," a self-assessment tool that helps people measure how much their emotions are influencing their financial choices.
Orman has long emphasized that fear, shame, and anger are internal obstacles that can sabotage financial success. These feelings can prompt impulsive decisions — like spending money you don't have or avoiding bills out of anxiety. Even the best financial plan can fall apart if emotions take the driver's seat.
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She reminds listeners: "Money alone isn't the key to true financial freedom...It’s your mindset, your emotions, and your willingness to face the truth."
To help listeners get a better handle on their emotional habits around money, Orman presented a 20-question quiz. Each question gives you four choices – A, B, C or D – with each letter representing a different emotional response to a common financial situation — such as facing an unexpected expense, setting goals, or talking about money with loved ones.
Once you’ve answered all 20 questions, you assign points to each response:
A = 3 points
B = 1 point
C = 0 points
D = 2 points
Then total your points to calculate your Emotional Money Score.
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Choose the answer that best reflects your current habits or feelings:
-
When you think about your finances, which emotion do you feel most often?
A. Calm and in control
B. Anxious or fearful
C. Indifferent or avoidant
D. Excited but sometimes impulsive -
If the stock market drops or the economy is about to implode, how do you react?
A. I stick to my plan and don't panic
B. I worry and consider making rash changes
C. I ignore it and hope for the best
D. I feel a rush and want to act quickly -
When you want to make a big purchase, what’s your process?
A. I evaluate if it's a need or want and act accordingly
B. I often buy it just to feel better, then regret it
C. I avoid thinking about it until the last minute
D. I buy first and figure out the consequences later -
Do you have an emergency fund?
A. Yes, and I contribute to it regularly
B. I do, but it falls far short of what I know I need
C. No, I keep putting it off
D. I save only when I'm financially afraid -
How do you feel discussing money with loved ones?
A. Comfortable and open
B. Nervous or ashamed
C. I avoid it
D. I dominate the conversation or use money to impress others -
If you experience a financial setback, what is your first response?
A. I assess the situation calmly and make a plan
B. I panic and feel overwhelmed
C. I ignore it, hoping it will resolve itself
D. I blame myself or others and act impulsively -
Do you believe having more money would solve your problems?
A. No, I know happiness and security come from within
B. Yes, I often think more money would fix everything
C. I don’t know. I avoid thinking about it
D. Sometimes, but I also know I need to change my habits -
How do you feel when you see others spending money on things that you want but can’t afford?
A. I’m happy for them and content with my own choices
B. I’m jealous or resentful
C. I try not to think about it
D. I sometimes overspend just to keep up -
When you receive unexpected money like a bonus or a gift or a tax refund, what is your first instinct?
A. Save or invest it
B. Spend it quickly
C. Let it sit, unsure what to do
D. Treat myself, then worry about the rest -
How do you approach setting financial goals?
A. I set clear, realistic goals and track my progress
B. I set goals but rarely follow through
C. I avoid setting goals because it feels overwhelming
D. I set ambitious goals but get distracted by new desires -
If you make a financial mistake, how do you handle it?
A. I learn from it and I adjust my behavior
B. I dwell on it and feel guilty
C. I ignore it and hope it goes away
D. I blame myself harshly or repeat the mistake -
What’s your attitude towards debt?
A. I avoid it or pay it off quickly
B. I feel anxious or ashamed about it
C. I ignore it and hope it won’t catch up to me
D. I use debt to get what I want now, then worry later -
How often do you check your bank accounts or your credit union accounts or your money account balances?
A. Regularly as part of my routine
B. Only when I'm worried
C. Rarely or never
D. When I feel like spending or after a splurge -
How do you feel about your current savings for retirement?
A. I’m confident and on track
B. I’m worried cause I’m falling behind
C. I don’t know how much I have
D. I keep meaning to start but haven’t -
When you receive a bill or a financial statement, what’s your reaction?
A. I open and review it right away
B. I feel anxious, but open it eventually
C. I avoid opening it as long as possible
D. I ignore it until there’s a problem -
How do you make decisions about lending or giving money to a friend or family member?
A. I set clear boundaries and stick to them
B. I feel guilty saying no
C. I avoid the conversation
D. I often say yes even when I shouldn’t -
How do you feel about negotiating your salary?
A. Confident and assertive
B. Nervous but try anyway
C. I avoid it
D. I get aggressive or emotional -
If you lost your job tomorrow, how would you cope financially and emotionally?
A. I have a plan and would stay calm
B. I’d panic but try to figure it out
C. I’d feel lost and overwhelmed
D. I’d blame myself or others and act impulsively -
How do you react when someone offers you financial advice?
A. Open-minded and willing to learn
B. Defensive or embarrassed
C. I tune out or avoid the conversation
D. I get argumentative or dismissive -
What’s your overall feeling about your financial future?
A. Hopeful and proactive
B. Worried but trying to improve
C. Uncertain and avoidant
D. Optimistic but sometimes unrealistic
