By: Revanche

Personal finance and personality traits

August 26, 2013

A friend’s spouse and I bonded over a plate of overcooked eggs.

“I was really looking forward to my runny egg!”
“I was too!”
“Let’s go get runny eggs.”

And like new playground besties, we ambled off to register our complaint with the server, leaving our spouses to look at us fondly and remark: It’s nice that they have someone to do that with. I would just gripe about it endlessly and do nothing about it.

We all laughed about how much Z and I are alike in refusing to take guff from anyone or be cheated of what we paid for, whereas friend Y and PiC are alike in preferring to let things go, even if they were unhappy.

Since we had, just the day before, gone back to a store for a $4 refund on a candy bar that should have been discounted, I think Y knew I was that type already but it was nice to discover my fellow introvert was also a fellow finance manager.

This led me to wonder, knowing that there are certainly extroverts among us, whether there’s any kind of predisposition for introverts or extroverts to enjoy managing their money more.

*Without assuming that introverts and extroverts are incapable of acting differently from the standard definition of their “type”.
**Borrowing from Wikipedia, working from these definitions and not the assumption that the extraverts are socially competent while the introverts are socially incompetent:

An extroverted person is likely to enjoy time spent with people and find less reward in time spent alone. They tend to be energized when around other people, and they are more prone to boredom when they are by themselves.

Introverts are easily overwhelmed by too much stimulation from social gatherings and engagement, introversion having even been defined by some in terms of a preference for a quiet, more minimally stimulating environment.

12 Responses to “Personal finance and personality traits”

  1. It wasn’t mentioned in Quiet (which I just returned to the library today), so I don’t think anyone has done research on this question! Introverts are more likely to hang out on the internets though.

  2. I think I’m pretty much right in between being an introvert and extrovert, but I am totally that person that will complain about my eggs not being runny too.

  3. Katie C. says:

    As far as restaurants go, I will definitely say something if it can be easily remedied- like they left croutons off my salad – but if it requires them to re-cook an item, I’ll probably say nothing simply because it throws the meal off. If they have to re-cook my food, David is eating his food before I even see mine and is ready to go probably about the time I start eating. (Probably not as much an issue with eggs…)

    • Revanche says:

      I’ve always been with people (partners or not) who encouraged me to get the meal I want done the way I want. They either wait for me to get my food or just eat first and wait for me after šŸ™‚

  4. Liz says:

    I’m an extrovert that would *totally* send my eggs back and loves managing money. I think money management has more to do with life experience and family of origin then a personality framework. I could see how some extroverts could have some manic traits and spend money freely though.

    • Revanche says:

      I agree there are many more influences on money mgmt than just a personality trait. I’m just curious if it has any significant effect.

  5. MMm… runny eggs. I’m an extrovert for things that matter — money, etc — when I am forced to be. Otherwise, I think I’m more introverted.

    • Revanche says:

      Do you mean you’re more outspoken on those matters or really extroverted where you draw energy from having that interaction? I don’t feel more energetic after but I do feel triumphant when I’ve sorted it.

  6. Tazz says:

    I guess it depends on how I was feeling at the time. Usually when I discover a discrepancy in the price on the receipt vs price on shelf/advertised, I’d be more than willing to go back and ask for a refund (if we are still at the store) but once we’ve left, it’s usually ‘whatever’ (not worth the effort considering gas prices are cray cray!). But my husband tends to not care as much.

    Speaking of runny eggs, I love em runny and had one time, actually cried when I got mine and it wasn’t. Or maybe the fact the server sent em with bacon when I requested for none. Or maybe it was just coz I was having a crappy morning and was looking forward to a good plate of breakfast to cheer me up! Guess that didnt work!

    • Revanche says:

      Ohh I couldn’t turn down bacon, not if it was good and meaty.

      I’ll just about always go back except when it costs more money to do so, then I try to get it by phone. šŸ™‚

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