1. If someone gave you $100 right now, how would you spend it and why? (No catches are involved; you can spend the money anywhere and in any way you want.) Would you make a bunch of small purchases or use the money for one big item?
bq. There are a lot of things I’d like to buy, so it’s difficult picking just $100 worth of splurges. I’d have to say I’d definitely get the bottle of ink I’ve had my eye on for a while now. I’d also get some gas for my car since I’m almost on empty at the moment. It’s sensible things like that that keep me from enjoying any money I may get. That and I don’t have a job currently, so I have to take whatever money I get and spend it responsibly. Bah.
2. Do you consider yourself financially savvy? Do you have a good handle on your own financial status? Are you the person who primarily keeps track of your (or your family’s) finances? Do you use a computer program or balance your checkbook by hand?
bq. I feel that I’m quite good with money — when I have it. When i was working in college, despite having to pay tuition and bills and art supplies, I managed to save up a hefty sum that helped me survive when I moved back home before I could get a job. I also usually had enough spare change to be able to buy plane tickets to see my boyfriend at the time, and to rent cars if I needed to drive any distance since the car I used at the time was a heap. And to balance my checkbook, I use the standard “Quicken”:http://www.quicken.com.
3. Do you ever play the lottery? Why/why not? Do you think that it would completely change your life, or would you try to continue with the way you’d been living before? What types of lottery games do you play, and how often?
bq. I’ve tried to play the lottery a couple times, but it’s just not something that’s ever stuck with me. My parents play the lottery all the time, for the past 20 years, and the largest jackpot they’ve won has been around $250. So, while it’s nice to dream and play the chance, it’s just not worth it to me — I could save up the money and get other things like toilet paper or sour cream.
4. Are you a coupon cutter and bargain hunter, or is money no object to you? Do you tend to do things yourself to save money or pay someone else to do them? Or are you somewhere in-between?
bq. I’m not so much a coupon cutter, but I do try to look for bargains if I can. I do like some things being brand-name, but usually I find the generic store-brand is just as good, if not better. And cheaper. With most things, I try to do myself to save some money, but some other things — like oil changes and other car work — I’ll definitely pay someone else to do. So I’m probably somewhere in between with that one.
5. What’s the largest amount of money that you’ve ever held in your hands?
bq. This is a tough one because I’ve never been really well-off. If I had to take a guess, I’d have to say probably around $1,000. And that’s only when I cashed out my checking account before moving to Florida for college. After that I realized that my check card would work across state lines, so I kept money in the bank and just used the debit card. I rarely carry cash with me, though I do have a couple emergency dollars in my wallet. Things are just so much easier with a debit card — you don’t have to worry about counting change or having something jingling in your pockets all the time. And I’m a geek, so I’d love the time when I can have an “RFID(Radio Frequency IDentification)”:http://www.answers.com/topic/rfid chip in my cell phone and have it linked to my bank account and use that to pay for stuff.
