In college, you'll be responsible for every penny you spend. How do you handle money? Are you thrifty, or are you a spender? Take this quiz to reveal your attitude toward money.

1. Your parents give you a credit card for emergencies. You:
   1. Leave it in your sock drawer. You don't want to be tempted by it.
      
      
   2. Keep it in your wallet—just in case something comes up.
      
      
   3. Use it to buy some "emergency" clothes. After all, you might need an extra pair of khakis.
      
      
2. When the offering plate comes around, you give:
   1. Ten percent. No more, no less.
      
      
   2. Always 10 percent. But you sometimes scrimp and save to give a little extra to a ministry you really care about.
      
      
   3. If you have a dollar or two left over by Sunday morning (which isn't likely), you'll drop them in the collection plate.
      
      
3. Your college fund is still a little short. When you get your paycheck, you:
   1. Put every single penny of it into your college fund. You don't spenda dime.
      
      
   2. Deposit most of it into your college fund. You keep some so you can take in a cheap movie with your friends.
      
      
   3. Spend it. You figure your parents will pick up the tab for college.
      
      
4. When you think about money and college, you:
   1. Are totally worried. No matter how much you save, you'll never have enough.
      
      
   2. Know it will be tight. But with a good budget you'll make ends meet.
      
      
   3. Don't really think about it.
      
      
5. You begged your parents for a cell phone. They agreed, as long as you promised to pay for all your calls. When the bill comes, you:
   1. Don't owe a dime. You only talked when you had free minutes.
      
      
   2. Owe a little. But that's OK—you saved for it and have the money on hand.
      
      
   3. Owe a ton. You yakked to your friends so much your bill is sky-high. You don't have the cash, so you'll have to borrow it from your parents.
      
      
6. You have two weeks to sell candy bars to raise money for your upcoming mission trip. At the end of the two weeks, you've sold:
   1. Way more than enough. You're entire trip is covered, plus you've earned the extra spending cash you're supposed to bring.
      
      
   2. Just enough. But you'll still need to come up with some spending money.
      
      
   3. None. You blow the fundraiser off and ask your parents for the cash.
      
      
7. You've been invited to a scholarship banquet, but you've got nothing to wear. You:
   1. Wash your best pair of jeans and hope that's good enough. Sure, you could dip into your savings, but why spend money on semiformal stuff if you don't need to?
      
      
   2. Ask some of your friends if they have some clothes you can borrow. If none of their stuff fits, you'll check out the local thrift shop.
      
      
   3. Go to the mall with your credit card and buy a nice outfit—and a couple to spare. After all, you'll be able to pay the minimum balance when the bill comes … you think.
      
      
8. When you're invited to a birthday party, you:
   1. Buy a nice card, but no gift.
      
      
   2. Buy something nice without breaking the bank.
      
      
   3. Buy an expensive gift. If you don't have the money, charge it or borrow the cash you need.
      
      
9. Your favorite band just released a new CD. You:
   1. Glue your ear to your favorite radio station, hoping to hear some of the new songs.
      
      
   2. Put it on your Christmas list.
      
      
   3. Run out and buy it. And get a couple of CDs for your friends, too.
      
      
10. Your friends started going to a coffeehouse after school. You:
    1. Don't go. You don't want to spend any extra money.
       
       
    2. Go just to hang out. You let yourself buy one small latte a week. They really add up!
       
       
    3. Become a coffee junkie. You down an extra-large mocha every day.
       
       
11. It's your turn to bring snacks for your small group meeting. Unfortunately, you won't get your allowance until next week. You:
    1. Drop by the local Dollar Store. That way, you won't have to spend more than a dollar on some slightly stale cookies.
       
       
    2. Ask your parents if you can have your allowance a week early. You're sure they'll understand, since you don't ask very often.
       
       
    3. Borrow from your savings account and order a big, gorgeous sheet cake made in the shape of a Bible. Sure, it'll cost a lot, but no one will ever forget it!
       
       
12. You and your best friend are going to a movie together. When you get there, he discovers he has no cash. You:
    1. Quickly tell him you won't pay for his ticket—even though you have $20 on you.
       
       
    2. Pay for his movie, but explain that money is tight and he needs to see it as a loan.
       
       
    3. Pay for his movie and spend the rest of your 20 bucks on snacks for both of you—even though you need the leftover cash to last another week.
       
       
13. Your school's French Club is having its annual Christmas party. Since you're the treasurer, it's your job to collect money for it. You:
    1. Keep a careful list of who's given money and who hasn't. On the day of the party, you teach everyone the French word for cheapskate.
       
       
    2. Tell the club that if everyone gives $5, you'll have enough for a really nice party. After that, you just make do with whatever you collect.
       
       
    3. Figure it doesn't really matter who gives and who doesn't. Your parents are always saying that education is important, so you just add the stuff you want to the grocery list they keep on the refrigerator.
       
       
14. How often do you worry about money?
    1. Always.
       
       
    2. Sometimes.
       
       
    3. Never.
       
       
15. You and your brothers have decided to buy your Mom a birthday present together. When it's time to chip in your share of the cost, you:
    1. Demand to see the receipt, then pay exactly what you owe, down to the penny—no more, no less.
       
       
    2. Pay your share—with no problem, since you've been saving for it over the last few weeks—and chip in for a birthday card, too.
       
       
    3. Plead with your brothers for a loan, just this once. You just bought a new video game, and that ate up your savings.
       
       

If you scored mostly A's: You're thrifty. You rarely spend money. You sometimes find yourself staying home instead of going out with your friends so you won't have to spend extra money. Having enough money for things like college is serious business. But don't forget to think about fun and relationships. It's good to be careful, but don't be so careful that you can't occasionally buy a latte with friends and enjoy the "gift" of money God has given you. For more helpful insights, take a look at "The Balancing Act."

If you scored mostly B's: You have money sense. You rarely overspend. You're careful to save money, but you're also not afraid to go out for things like coffee or a movie every once in a while. You've totally got a grip on how to handle money. Being a good steward of your money is hard work. But if you continue these habits, you'll be right on the money when you get to college.

If you scored mostly C's: You're a big spender. Your motto is: If you want it—buy it. You'll even spend money when you're flat broke by borrowing it or charging it. This is a dangerous habit. Don't forget that every penny adds up. And they will add up very quickly when you're in college and you have to put down a chunk of change on things like books and other school supplies. If you get some good money sense now, you'll be ready to handle your cash flow in college. Check out "The College Budget Starter Kit" for tips on creating a budget.

Copyright © 2003 by the author or Christianity Today International/Campus Life magazine.
Click here for reprint information on Campus Life.

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