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Just like we all have different tastes when it comes to food and fashion, our approach to finances can vary greatly from one person to the next. Financial psychology is a growing field that examines how our upbringing and family dynamics can determine our relationship to money and whether we become splurgers, savers, or something in between.

While psychologists say there are as many as seven distinct money personality types, according to financial counsellor, Jen Hemphill,host of the Her Dinero Matters podcast, most specific money personalities can be divided into three main types, which she calls the Planner, the Giver and the Spender.

Hemphill describes the Planner as the one that “likes to save, budget, invest and is very watchful of their money. Being organised and planning all that is very important to them. The saver and the investor is part of who the planner is,” while the Giver is someone who “puts others before self – which is not the best thing to do all the time – but it’s important for them to give, maybe due to a feeling of status, or maybe it’s because of their strong values.”

The third type, the Spender, is the “carefree person who’s very optimistic about life and spontaneous with their purchases. There’s no waiting about a purchase – they just do it. There’s no overthinking.”

Hemphill says there’s overlap between these differing money personalities. Not only can you be a bit of all of them, but in different seasons of life, you can shift from one type to another. “You can change at any given point, and I think you can have a little bit of all three,” Hemphill says.

Read on for some tips and ideas on how to better handle your finances depending on what kind of money personality you are, to help make your money work smarter for you.

Do you like to splurge but also save?

It’s not uncommon to share features of different money personality types: you may be frugal in one area of life but a carefree spender in another. Perhaps you like to give money to family members or charitable causes… even though that money could have come in useful in your own life? The best way to manage spend/save personalities is to acknowledge this about yourself – and then plan ahead accordingly.

“What dollar amount makes sense for your household finances when you want to go buy something or spend time with friends? How do you plan in a way that you can set that money aside for sending or giving, that doesn’t interrupt what you need to do, like pay your expenses, pay for the long-term and get out of debt?” says Hemphill.

You can also ensure that your spending works smarter by signing up for a rewards-based bank account and credit card. Take the HSBC Everyday Global Account and HSBC Credit Card – simply signing up for them via HSBC Personal Banking can earn you up to S$400 cashback, or S$200 cashback plus a piece of Samsonite luggage worth S$670 (*1).

This Everyday Global Account can also yield you up to S$600 cashback and bonus interest each month, on top of whatever cashback or rewards you may be earning on your credit card, as well as various deals and discounts across dining, retail and travel, so you can save while you spend.

Are you all about savings? Would you like to invest your money and explore various routes to grow your money?

Planner money personalities who are all about saving and growing money should diversify with investments but need to assess their risk tolerance to ensure they invest in things that make sense, especially since some stocks are very volatile. Understanding all the benefits and risks ahead of time can make all the difference when it comes to growing your money.

“You also want to consult a financial planner because, with different stages in your life, your investment strategy will need to change,” explains Hemphill. “Maybe it needs to be riskier because of whatever goals you have. Maybe it will take you a little longer, so you need to invest a little more aggressively. Or maybe you're nearing retirement and need to invest in things that aren't as aggressive.”

Unit trusts is one way to invest your funds, with professional managers overseeing your money. There are regular saving plan options that allow you to set aside a monthly sum for investments. At the same time, the HSBC Everyday Global Account enables you to exchange and store your foreign currencies to invest at favourable exchange rates, together with the HSBC Investment Account which also gives clients access to competitive equities brokerage fees and same-day buy/sell capability.

In addition, using the HSBC Singapore app, you can manage investments easily in one view. To help you in your investment journey, you can now enjoy S$200 cash reward when you sign up for the HSBC Everyday Global Account and open an Investment Account (*1).

The HSBC SG App is one good way to get started on your investments. With just a single log-in, you can open a Unit Trust investment account, explore, review and shortlist funds from over 100 unique funds across risks profile (including ESG funds). You can continue to buy and sell Unit Trusts via a Regular Savings Plan or lump sum, depending on your investment needs and strategies.

For those who prefer to trade on equities, you can do so with the same log-in and take advantage of trading opportunities in the US, Singapore and Hong Kong markets, enjoying competitive brokerage fees favourable to the investor.

Do you worry about money losing money? Are you indifferent to money or feel you don’t have the time to plan your finances?

Not everyone feels super-confident about their finances – or you might be someone who is indifferent to money or doesn’t have the time to sort out your finances properly. However, Hemphill says that if you have a fear of finances, understanding where that comes from will impact your attitude towards money and how you manage it.

“Also: identify what your money strengths are. Even though you may fear money or lack confidence because you don't know how to manage money or you're always overspending, there’s always a money strength that you have. Identifying those money strengths is going to give you that boost of confidence that you need,” she explains.

She also suggests reframing how you think about money and finances: it doesn’t have to be a complex, scary thing, but it is a personal journey, so stop comparing your experience to others.

“How we get from A to B will be differ for everyone. We want to use tools that fit our lifestyle and make sense to us. It’s about keeping it simple, doable and something that you will be consistent with.”

Manage your cash flow and be rewarded for your everyday transactions with the HSBC Everyday Global Account. This account enables HSBC Personal Banking customers to make their money work harder by earning up to S$600 cashback and bonus interest each month through the HSBC Everyday+ Rewards Programme (*2). Having everything in one place, with an easy-to-use app to help you manage it all, can take away the stress and hassle of dealing with different, confusing financial institutions.

If you want help managing your money, think about talking to a professional at HSBC to invest your money to help your money go further.

Personal Banking can support you in your financial needs, whatever money personality type you are… simply bank, spend and invest and get sign up gifts worth up to S$1,070. Offer valid till 30 Sep 2022 (*1). Find out more at www.hsbc.com.sg/personal-banking

Disclaimers

(*1) Visit hsbc.com.sg/ega for more details on the HSBC Everyday+ Rewards Programme.

(*2) Terms and conditions apply. SGD deposits are insured up to S$75k by SDIC.

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