The Ultimate Savings Quiz

Estimated Completion Time
1 min
The Ultimate Savings Quiz
Image: Jupiterimages/BananaStock/Thinkstock

About This Quiz

Most of assume that saving our money means doing a lot of math, research and other activities we probably try to avoid. But in fact, saving is more about creating new habits and looking at your money in new ways, and a lot of it is just about common sense and trusting your instincts. In this quiz, we'll look at personal spending habits, different forms of saving and assumptions about the economy. In other words: shopping!
In January of 2010, how many women surveyed by the Web site ShopSmart admitted they were spending more than planned?
36 percent
17 percent
6.5 percent
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Of those polled, 17 percent admitted they were spending more than they'd planned to spend, although by June that figure had risen to 25 percent. Sounds scary, but it's actually a good sign for the economy.

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In June of 2010, how many customers surveyed said they'd used a coupon for a recent purchase?
20 percent
12 percent
62 percent
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Of the customers surveyed, 62 percent said they'd used a coupon for a purchase, the highest score so far in the survey, which indicates a thriftier mindset across the country.

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What is the rate of inflation, generally, from year to year?
3 percent
6.55 percent
1.2 percent
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Across the board, we generally assume an annual inflation rate of about 3 percent, although certain areas -- like groceries -- can sometimes rise faster than others.

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In 2010, what Annual Percentage Yield (APY) can you expect on a one-year Certificate of Deposit (CD)?
10 percent
7 percent
1 percent
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A typical one-year CD, in 2010, may be around 1 percent APY. A five-year term might go up to around 3 percent.

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What does FDIC stand for?
Federal Department of Investment Collections
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
Financial Deposit Insurance Coalition
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) insures the money in your bank account. The National Credit Union Association (NCUA) does the same when you keep your money at a credit union.

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When looking at interest rates, an investor should compare products by:
Annual Percentage Yield
Annual Percentage Rate or Annual Percentage Yield
Annual Percentage Rate
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Annual Percentage Rate (APR) indicates the interest you'll be paid annually, but Annual Percentage Yield (APY) also takes into account how often that interest is applied to the balance, giving a clearer idea of the product's worth.

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The average American household spent how much on entertainment in 2009?
$1,890
$600
$2,698
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Americans spent around $2,698 per household on entertainment in 2009 -- 5.4 percent of the average household's income.

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You want to put down $20,000 on a home three years from now. About how much do you need to save every month until then?
$560
$650
$225
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

$20,000 divided by 36 months is $555.56. By investing that money in a savings account or higher-yield CD, you could cut back on the three-year wait by making the money work while it's waiting.

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How much did the average household spend on clothes in 2009?
$1,750
$170
$3,400
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The average consumer unit (2.5 people) spent about $1,750 on clothing and its upkeep in 2009.

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How much should you expect to earn from your checking account's interest rate?
4 percent
1.19 percent
3 percent
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Bank accounts should be earning you 3 percent annually on checking and 3.4 percent on savings, and you should not be paying any account fees.

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You Got:
/10
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