Even if you have taken it, please pass it along to friends and family by e-mail (the link above is all you need). It's anonymous [unless you choose to give your information], it's quick, it's painless (unless you're really dismayed thinking about how much money you spend each month, which could apply to most of us), and it's important. One friend did it in less than 5 minutes, though I think most people need closer to ten minutes to complete it.
Though there's not nearly enough data to analyze yet, there are a couple of points I'm already finding interesting:
Of course, one response from anywhere is not data, so pass it along to all your friends!
- One of the last questions asks if simply filling out the survey made the person more aware of their expenses. About half the people so far have answered "somewhat".
- It's nice to see the quick geographical spread already: 3 countries, 4 major metro areas in the United States, and a large number of neighborhoods have at least one respondent.
Best comment so far... I added in a Q about "hair care" on the suggestion of someone who noted that people may forget about shaitels and the like when calculating costs. Someone asked: "Are you trying to slip in some market research for your wife's business?"
ReplyDeleteWould have been smart... :P
hey there, just wanted to drop a quick comment to say "hi" and let you know that i've returned permanently to the jblog universe.
ReplyDeleteI think my info would totally mess up your results. ;-)
ReplyDeleteDE - No such thing... please, feel free to take it!
ReplyDeleteIs there an n/a option for household income? :-p
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't ask income. :) Just expenses...
ReplyDeleteYou asked about charity you gove, what about charity you get? (eek)
ReplyDeleteOk, I will do it for my family's very sorry finances. I hope you are ok with some off the charts answers....
Please don't feel pressured to; but for what it's worth, the "sorry" finances are as important (if not more important) than the ones who are doing well.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I like to think my family is the exception, but unfortunately, since I started my blog I have gotten emails from lots of people who are in similar situations and it is more common than you want to know.
ReplyDeleteExactly. (Actually, in a way, it's exactly one of the things we wish to know/learn from this...)
ReplyDeleteWell, for a real life example you can read my blog, and believe me when I say there are people in worse financial straights than we are (and I don't know how that is possible, but....) I don't know how to get these people to do your survey though.
ReplyDeleteYes, I just read a number of posts...
ReplyDeleteI'm sure there are numerous people in dire straits. :(
Honestly, just pass it along and whomever takes it, takes it. The link can be sent out however - blogs, emails, you name it.
http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?key=p-2WPRCDbkfzWDcHNWxlhdQ
Ok, I will forward the link. Even tho I am not sure you really want us coming along and messing up people's rosy picture of things.
ReplyDeleteHeh. You'd be surprised...
ReplyDeleteThank you.
My pleasure! (is there a reward for this? ;-)
ReplyDeleteLOL
ReplyDeleteHopefully, the reward will be in the analysis and subsequent utility of the information provided. Perhaps not for you, but for others.
Who reads the results? Can I put in notes based on our "conversation" here? Or will it be read by some random stranger who won't know?
ReplyDeleteMe.
ReplyDeleteOk, so I hope you get all my answers. I am writing from my fathers perspective. Unfortunately I don't know how much the bills are, I just give him a check to cover them, I don't know how the money gets divided.
ReplyDeleteThat's fine... thanks!
ReplyDeletedone. yikes.
ReplyDeleteEzzie: Thank you for the thought-provoking survey. I just got married and was inspired to sit down with my chatan and further discuss our financial goals!
ReplyDeleteAnon - Thank you!! For that alone, the survey is worthwhile. :)
ReplyDeleteI hope that when the results can be sifted through and analyzed the analysis will help many others do the same, and perhaps even more effectively.
I really appreciate it, thanks.
I started to take it but was too lazy to convert everything from shekels to dollars so I wrote it in shekels. Then I wasn't sure how to answer the medical insurance questions since the system is totally different here (i.e. insurance is subsidized by the government but it's not Medicaid). At that point, I decided you probably meant this survey for US readers only and I didn't continue. Did I assume wrong?
ReplyDeleteAnon - While originally it was intended for the States, and was designed accordingly, please don't hesitate to answer anyway. In NIS is fine (other Israelis who've filled it out have done the same), and since you're doing so, I'll know what the "government subsidizes" choice means in context and can adjust accordingly.
ReplyDeleteIn the conclusion, obviously Israel will be separate from other communities, but it's still a worthwhile comparison. Every community has its own differences; Israel's just happen to be much greater.
Also an Israel-US comparison might be more worthwhile than ever before - ironically now with the economy so shaky (rather than just a little shaky about 2 years ago), more people are thinking to make aliyah anyway.
ReplyDelete