Money Circle

D I S C L A I M E R The CFPB has prepared this material as a resource for the public. This material is provided for educational

WORKSHEET

otherwise qualified professional. The CFPB is not responsible for the advice or actions of individuals or entities from which you

Who’s in
my money
circle?

and information purposes only. It is not a replacement for the guidance or advice of an accountant, certified financial advisor, or
received the CFPB educational materials. The CFPB’s educational efforts are limited to the materials that CFPB has prepared.
This tool may ask you to provide sensitive personal and financial information. The CFPB does not collect any information from you
or the organization using this tool. The CFPB is not responsible and has no control over how others may use the information that
you provide to them about your personal or financial situation. The CFPB recommends that you do not include names or account
numbers and that users follow their organization’s policies regarding retention, storage, and disposal of documents that contain
personal information.
This worksheet includes links or references to third-party resources or content that consumers may find helpful. The Bureau does
not control or guarantee the accuracy of this outside information. The inclusion of links or references to third-party sites does not
necessarily reflect the Bureau’s endorsement of the third-party, the views expressed on the outside site, or products or services
offered on the outside site. The Bureau has not vetted these third-parties, their content, or any products or services they may offer.
There may be other possible entities or resources that are not listed that may also serve your needs.

This tool will help you:

Think about this:

• S
 ee who makes money
choices at home

Families make money choices
together and separately.
Whether we realize it or not,
each person’s ideas and
decisions can affect our own.
By mapping your money
circle, you can begin to see
how different people handle
financial choices, and how
their ideas and attitudes
about money may affect
your own.

• C
 onsider how those
choices are made
• Think about how other
people’s money choices
and attitudes affect
your own
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prototype
only— not for
distribution

Start with one question:
Consumer Financial
Protection Bureau

Who makes money choices in your family?

Draw your money circle.

1

In the center circle, draw and label squares
to indicate who in your family makes
important financial choices.

2

In the middle circle, draw and label triangles
to indicate who else is in your home.

3

In the outer circle, draw and label stars
to indicate other people whom you give
money to, receive money from, share with,
or discuss money decisions with.

4

5

me

1

For each person you’ve drawn, list two
or three financial areas for which they
are responsible (like housing, groceries,
entertainment, income, budgeting,
donations, etc.).

2

Next to each person, write two or three
words that best describe their money style
(how they make money choices). Use the list
below for ideas, or come up with your own.

3

Planner

Spender

Avoider

Worrier

Careful

Saver

Thought starters
How are the money styles in your inner circle similar
or different from those in the outer circles?
In what situations are the differences helpful,
and in what situations are they difficult?

WORKSHEET DISCUSSION GUIDE

Who’s in my financial family circle?
G U I D I N G T H E C O N V E R S AT I O N

CIRCLE TIPS

Financial decisions are never made in a vacuum. They are influenced by our
feelings and attitudes toward money, and—whether we recognize it or not—by
the financial feelings, attitudes, and behaviors of the family members around
us.

•

1: Refers to your client and anyone else making big money decisions in the
family.

•

2: Refers to others living in the home.

This worksheet is intended to guide a conversation between you and your
client about the role family members play in influencing financial behaviors.
By making those connections visible, this 10-minute exercise may spark a new
awareness of their own behaviors and choices, which can lead to new ideas or
strategies to achieve their financial goals.

•

3: Refers to those people outside the immediate family, whom your client
gives money to, receives money from, shares resources with, or with whom
they discuss money decisions or advice.

This worksheet is intended to be completed as part of a conversation between
a practitioner and a client. It is designed to start a conversation and is not
meant to be completed alone.

sister

mortgage
childcare

daughter

car
payments
groceries

SPENDER

husband AVOIDER
me

entertainment
1

2

3

Sample worksheet

PLANNER
WORRIER

RESOURCES
Is this a good tool for your client? This tool is for use with clients who are ready to
explore their relationship to money. It is not advised to use the tool with clients and
families in the middle of crisis, or with families where there is a high level of tension, or
risk of conflict.
Need to make a referral? Money arguments can be a sign of much deeper issues. If
you are in a situation where you feel unqualified or uncomfortable, refer your client to a
licensed mental health professional or, if feasible, to one with specific training in
financial planning. Please consult with a peer or supervisor right away if you have
questions. One example of a website that may be helpful is the Financial Therapy
Association Network.
www.financialtherapyassociation.org/find-a-ft
Want the theory behind this worksheet? Read the literature review upon which it’s
based. www.SonyaBrittPaperTBD.gov
Want more exercises like this? Check out the CFPB’s Your Money Your Goals toolkit for
more resources and conversation starters.
www.consumerfinance.gov/your-money-your-goals/

Consumer Financial
Protection Bureau