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A minute to breathe

Box breathing: breathe in for a count of four, hold for four, breathe out for four and hold again. Four rounds, a little over a minute.

Breathe in

Round 1 of 4

Financial well-being

Ten questions, three minutes. The US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's financial well-being scale measures not income but how much freedom and calm money gives you: whether you manage today and feel secure about tomorrow.

Take the test
  • 3 min
  • 10 questions
  • CFPB scale, 2015

Financial well-being is not about the amount in the account. Two people with the same income can feel completely different: one is calm, the other keeps worrying the money will run out. The scale brings together four sides of that feeling: control over day-to-day money, the ability to absorb an unexpected expense, progress toward financial goals, and freedom of choice in life. The result is a score from 0 to 100.

How to read the result

  1. 0-29Very lowMoney is almost always a source of strain.
  2. 30-37LowConstantly having to make do.
  3. 38-49Medium lowMaking ends meet, but with no margin.
  4. 50-57Medium highThere is footing, though calm is not complete.
  5. 58-67HighMoney gives a sense of security.
  6. 68-100Very highFinancial freedom and calm.

Common questions

Is this a test of income?

No. The scale measures not how much money you have but how you feel about it: whether you control day-to-day spending, could absorb an unexpected expense, are moving toward goals and have freedom of choice. It is related to income, but far from entirely: a lot depends on habits and your relationship with money.

How is the score calculated?

Each answer gives 0 to 4 points, and the total of 0 to 40 is converted to the 0 to 100 scale with the official CFPB table. The table takes age into account: it differs for people 62 and over and for those younger, which is why the test asks your age first.

What counts as a good score?

There is no single line. The CFPB guide describes scores up to 29 as very low, 30 to 37 as low, 38 to 49 as medium low, 50 to 57 as medium high, 58 to 67 as high and 68 and above as very high. The average for US adults in 2017 was 54.

How can I improve my financial well-being?

Three things usually help: a clear picture of income and spending, a safety cushion, even a small one at first, and understanding your beliefs about money. The last is often the most important: if money is tied up with anxiety or guilt, spreadsheets alone won't help.

What to take next

The CFPB Financial Well-Being Scale (US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, 2015); the scale and its scoring are free and publicly available. The score is calculated with the official self-administered table. The test is not a substitute for financial advice.