Ten, and I have to stop! I worry about money from the time I get up until I can’t sleep sometimes. I think, after having my third daughter, I thought about it more. I just want my girls never to have to worry about money, and so it is my job to provide that for them. It is so important that I teach them not to make the same mistakes I used to make when it comes to money.
Julia Rutland
Indianapolis, Indiana

Money is an object that can be earned and is something controllable. I’d rate my worries at a 0. The loss of a loved one or having a close friend with medical struggles is a far greater stressor than an issue that can be corrected. Money is replaceable. Your health and loved ones are not.
Colleen Croff
Murray, Utah

In the past, I was a super worrywart when it came to money, but now I would say that on a scale of 1 to 10, I’m at about 2. The reason is that in 1993, after feeling as if I were going to collapse under the weight of what I considered too many bills, my mother showed me how to set up a simple budget. This enabled me to know exactly where our money was, and at the same time it allowed me to plan ahead for those inevitable purchases, such as school clothes, trips, etc. It was truly a lifesaver, and my husband continually raves about my financial skills.
Karen Harris
Naples, Italy

Zero! OK, maybe 0.5. No, really, I trust that everything I need will be provided for. If you make wise decisions to start with, then you never have to worry that you’ve made the wrong one.
Megan Wilcop
Madison, Wisconsin

On a scale of 1 to 10, I worry about money at a 9. This world is full of unpredictable phenomena, and it’s a shame that money is one of them. We all need it to survive, yet there doesn’t seem to be enough of it. And with the rising cost of necessities, like a roof over your family’s head, health care, and education, it seems as if there is never enough for even the little things that make life fun.
Naitasia Hensey
Woburn, Massachusetts

One. I simply don’t buy anything I can’t immediately afford, so I carry absolutely no debt. I use a debit card for all transactions, so I don’t have to worry about paying credit-card bills. Of course, it helps that I have no mortgage, no children, and a well-paying job.
Sandy Bell
New York, New York

Only 1 to 10? My money worries are probably a 15, or more. As a journalist who has been out of college only two years, my salary is barely enough for me to live off, much less invest in a 401(k) or even set aside an “emergency fund.” I worry because I am determined to be financially independent and financially smart, but it’s hard when almost every penny goes toward rent, gas, utilities, and food.
Emily Payne
Greenville, South Carolina