((snagged from the newspaper. i just feel it’s worth sharing))

Does a big chunk of your hard-earned money usually end up in the cash registers of shops and not in your savings account?

Come payday do you always give in to temptation of shopping? Are you having a hard time striking a balance between saving and spending?

Here’s a quick and simple test to one determine if she is a smart saver or a big spender. All you need to do is rate the following statement based on a scale of 1-7. “1″ being never and “7: being often. Then, compute for your total score.

• I can walk into a store, look around and not buy anything.
• I have a budget and stick to it faithfully
• I stuck to my budget this month
• I pay my bills in full and on time
• When i go to the grocery, I bring a list
• I feel guilty when i make unplanned purchases

If your score is below 25 points then you are on the right track.  Keep it up!  But if it is 25 and above means you are spending a little too much and saving a little to less.  Saving is tough, especially when the urge to splurge becomes overwhelming.