I am a 1 on the worry scale. My husband and I make only as much money as we make, and I learned a long time ago that worrying about money does not mean that somehow more will magically appear. So I plan, budget, and manage every penny that comes into this house. Do I make mistakes? Of course I do. That is why there is no zero on the scale.
Lynn Lyne
Vienna, Virginia

It used to be a 5, but after deciding to stay at home to homeschool my son and getting a new home, it’s a 10. I am responsible for the bills and the financial decisions, but I can’t seem to get my husband to understand how to be thrifty and prevent more money from escaping through the cracks when attention to detail could eliminate half the stress we have.
Benita Rydman
Roy, Washington

I worry about money at about a 2. When my kids were young and I didn’t work, I worried about money on a scale of about 15, and I worried all the time. Would I have money for clothes and food? Now that they are grown and I work part-time, I have more expendable money. Am I happier? No! I would give anything to have to worry about money again if it meant that I would have my kids at home again. Money doesn’t mean anything when the house is empty. So enjoy those kids while they are home. The time goes all too fast.
Colleen Snyder
Medina, Ohio

The Big Expensive Apple. I live in New York City, and I am employed by New York City. This is not a good a combination. On a scale of 1 to 10, my worries quiver at a 9. I work for a city I can barely afford to live in. I do love my job. I just wish it loved me back.
Alison Jajac
Whitestone, New York

I am a grad student with college loans and future grad-school loans, and I have credit-card debt. That alone is enough to worry me, so I’m probably an 8.
Ekaterina Zoubak
Germantown, Maryland

About a 1 on a scale of 1 to 10. From the time I was 19, I learned that I need to be able to take care of myself, and that’s when I started putting money into my 401(k). I didn’t (and don’t) count on Social Security as a savior in my retirement years. I also know the value of living way below your means.
Debra Salazar Herbst
Gig Harbor, Washington

I’m at a 10 right now. The real estate downturn has been awful for my family. Not only did we invest in a lot of real estate in Florida but I am also a part-time Realtor and a full-time writer. Real estate is what pays the bills and gives us a cushion to do the things we want. The value of properties we bought just two years ago has dropped by nearly 50 percent. And now we’ve had to dip into retirement to cover some payments. It’s scary. I never did worry before, but with kids and a husband now, it’s not just my future I am in charge of.
Michelle Moran
Bonita Springs, Florida