Evolving Personal Finance » Entries tagged with "tightwad"

Can You Change Your Tightwad/Spendthrift Personality?

September 5th, 2012 | 17 Comments

Can You Change Your Tightwad/Spendthrift Personality?

Last week we discussed a tool used by some researchers to peg people on a tightwad-spendthrift (TW-ST) scale – please take the quiz and share your (and your spouse’s) score on that post!  But considering this axis of my money personality made me wonder if people can change their tightwad-spendthrift status.   Obviously motivated people can change their behavior.  We particularly see this in people going bananas on their debt who go from spending money like water … Read entire article »

Filed under: psychology

Are You a Tightwad, a Spendthrift, or Unconflicted?

August 29th, 2012 | 25 Comments

Are You a Tightwad, a Spendthrift, or Unconflicted?

Yes, there is an academic definition!  Rick, Cryder, and Loewenstein developed the Tightwad-Spendthrift scale, published in 2008 in the Journal of Consumer Research.  I came across it when reading a paper investigating the connection between spendthrift/tightwad disparities in spouses and marital satisfaction (more on that later).  I gave myself the test and I want you to take it, too!   From the appendix of “Tightwads and Spendthrifts”, here is the (adapted) Spendthrift-Tightwad Scale:   1. Which of the following … Read entire article »

Filed under: the literature