Take The DollarWise Central Placement Quiz

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How regularly do you track your spending and maintain a budget?

I don’t track my spending or have a clear budget.

I have a rough idea of my spending, but I do not have a written budget.

I maintain a basic budget and check it every two weeks or once a month.

I have an automated system or a detailed spreadsheet that I update regularly.

1 out of 15

You discover you’re short $200 for this month’s bills. How do you handle it?

I don’t have a budget, so I’d probably put it on a credit card and hope next month looks better.

I’d pay part of it with a credit card and promise myself I’ll catch up soon, but I’m not exactly sure how.

I’d use my small emergency savings or adjust a couple of discretionary expenses to bridge the gap.

I have a clear, padded budget and multiple savings/investment accounts; covering $200 temporarily is no big deal.

2 out of 15

When you see terms like “fixed expenses” and “variable expenses,” how confident are you that you know what they mean and how to categorize your own?

I’m not clear on these terms or how they affect my budget.

I’ve heard of them but never applied them to my finances.

I can roughly categorize my expenses as fixed or variable.

I fully understand the difference and actively categorize my expenses.

3 out of 15

Your credit card statement is higher than expected. What’s your typical reaction?

I’m often surprised by my statement; I don’t track spending closely.

I pay the minimum due and wish I had a better plan for the balance.

I check where I overspent, adjust next month’s budget, and try to pay extra toward the balance.

I rarely carry a balance—my finances are usually in order. This statement hiccup is more of an exception.

4 out of 15

How would you describe your current debt situation (credit cards, personal loans, etc.)?

I have multiple high-interest debts and am unsure how to tackle them.

I pay the minimum each month but haven’t made a plan to pay off debt sooner.

I’m actively paying down some debt but haven’t fully optimized my repayment.

I’m either debt-free or have only low-interest debt (e.g., mortgage, student loans at low rates).

5 out of 15

You’ve just heard about the “debt snowball” and “debt avalanche” methods. Which best fits your current experience?

Never heard of them; I just make payments whenever I can.

I know these methods exist, but I haven’t really applied one consistently.

I actively use (or have used) one of these methods and am making good progress on debt.

I’m already debt-free or only have low-interest debt, so these methods don’t really apply anymore.

6 out of 15

Do you have an emergency fund (separate savings) to cover unexpected expenses (6 months of living costs or $10,000 - whichever is larger)?

I don’t have an emergency fund at all.

I have some savings, but it’s nowhere near 6 months of expenses.

I’m building one, but it’s not quite fully funded months yet.

I have a fully funded emergency savings of at least 6 months of living costs or $10,000.

7 out of 15

When an unexpected expense (like a car repair) comes up, how does it affect you?

It completely throws me off. I might rely on credit cards or family/friends.

I can usually handle smaller emergencies, but I don’t have a true “emergency fund.”

I have some savings specifically for this; I’ll pay it and then rebuild that fund over time.

I have a solid 6 (or more) months of expenses saved, so it’s a small bump in the road.

8 out of 15

How familiar are you with basic investing concepts (e.g., stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs)?

I’m not familiar with any of these.

I’ve heard of them but haven’t invested yet.

I have some basic investments or a retirement account I don’t often check.

I have multiple investment accounts and actively manage or regularly contribute to them.

9 out of 15

Someone starts talking about ETFs, mutual funds, and compounding returns. How comfortable are you joining that conversation?

I’m not sure I even know what ETFs and mutual funds really are.

I’ve heard the terms and read an article or two, but I haven’t done any real investing.

I have some money in a retirement account or a brokerage. I grasp the basics, though I’m still learning.

I’m comfortable discussing multiple investment products and rebalancing strategies.

10 out of 15

How would you describe your personal investing activity right now?

I don’t invest at all and have no immediate plans to start.

I might have a retirement plan at work, but I don’t do much else.

I contribute to one or more investment accounts regularly, even if modestly.

I actively manage or monitor several investments (e.g., stocks, ETFs, real estate funds).

11 out of 15

What is your level of experience with real estate investing?

I don’t own property and haven’t considered real estate as an investment.

I’m interested in real estate but don’t know where to start.

I own or co-own a primary residence but haven’t invested beyond that.

I already invest in real estate (rental property, REITs, etc.) or am knowledgeable in the area.

12 out of 15

Think about real estate (buying a home, rental properties, REITs). Which statement best applies to you?

I’ve never owned property and haven’t considered it seriously.

Real estate is interesting, but I’m not financially ready—my focus is on budgeting/debt.

I own or co-own a primary residence but haven’t invested in real estate beyond that.

I either own multiple properties or invest in real estate (e.g., REITs or rentals) as part of my portfolio.

13 out of 15

When thinking about your long-term wealth, how often do you factor in real estate or property ownership?

I haven’t factored real estate into my long-term plan at all.

I’m curious about real estate but want to strengthen my finances first.

I’m actively building savings or capital for a first property purchase or real estate investment.

I already include real estate (or plan to soon) as a core part of my long-term strategy.

14 out of 15

What do you think is your most pressing financial priority right now?

Gaining control of my monthly income and expenses.

Eliminating high-interest or problematic debt.

Making my money grow through investing.

Expanding my investments into property/real estate ventures.

15 out of 15