When one of our sons was younger, he frequently asked me about my dream car — what I’d love to drive some day/one day. I told many times that owning an especially nice car isn’t a big deal to me. What I value in a car is reliability and low cost.

That answer never satisfied him, so he kept bringing it up. He’d ask whether I’d prefer a Lamborghini or a Ferrari (realistic options, right?). I’d explain that I’m perfectly happy with my Honda Accord. Some time would pass, and then he’d ask again: “Corvette or Camero?” It was as if he couldn’t imagine anyone could be so unenthusiastic about the possibility of owning a cool car.

He is a classic sanguine. That’s his primary temperament. He has all the signs. He’s outgoing, charming, and makes friends easily. If he had a motto, it would be, “Everything goes better with other people.” He likes team sports and group activities. I learned very quickly that when he would ask me for help with his homework, he didn’t really need help; he just wanted company.

And he cares about his appearance. He knows what he likes — what type of clothes, how to style his hair, and, importantly, what type of car he’d like to own one day — preferably a sports car. Or an off-road vehicle.

What’s your type?

While my son wasn’t managing much money at that point, he’s managing more as he gets older. And he’s discovering (with some help from me!) how his temperament influences how he sees and uses money.

I believe temperament is the single most underrated, under-appreciated factor that impacts how we manage money. It goes a long way toward explaining why some people have a hard time building savings, staying out of debt, or giving generously. It has a lot to do with why some people are especially prone to buying things impulsively, overspending in general or on particular things such as clothing, being hesitant to finalize a purchase decision, hounding the people they love about how they spend, and much more.

Understanding your temperament, and if you’re married, you’re spouse’s temperament, is hugely helpful in managing money well and in doing so as a team. Oftentimes, when you have a disagreement about money, the issue isn’t really what you’re raising your voice about; it’s a clash of temperaments.

Everyone has a primary temperament and a secondary temperament. To identify yours, and to get a feel for how it impacts your relationship with money, download the free Identify Your Temperament tool.

Managing your tendencies

Each temperament comes with some inherent money management strengths and weaknesses.

On the positive side, sanguines tend to be very generous. Whereas some temperaments need to be convinced to give through logic and others are just naturally stingy, sanguines tend to be quick to share.

On the not-so-positive side, sanguines don’t like to get bogged down in details, so budgets are “not their thing.” And they can also be impulsive in their spending.

Knowing your tendencies can help you maximize your strengths and minimize your weaknesses. For a sanguine, that could mean encouraging others in their journey of generosity. And it could mean setting some parameters, like never spending more than $100 without taking a day to think about it some more.

If you’re married to a sanguine and you’ve been frustrated at their resistance to using a detailed budget, my suggestion is to give up on your hope that they will one day learn to love analytics. Just get them to drop their receipts in a predetermined place each evening.

Both of you should be involved in setting the overall direction in your household — what goals you’re pursuing, how much of your income you’re going to give and save, etc. But it’s okay for you to take the lead in crunching the numbers while you put your sanguine spouse in charge of brainstorming your next vacation.

What if you’re both sanguines? Use the least analytic budget tool of all: the envelope system.

Over the next few weeks, I’ll explore the other main temperament types: melancholic, choleric, and phlegmatic.

Do you know your primary temperament? If so, what are some key ways you see it impacting how you think about and use money?

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If you know someone who is engaged or newly married, why not get them a copy of my new book, Starting Strong: Discovering the Good That Money Can Do in Your Marriage? It goes much deeper into the topic of temperament and guides couples toward ways of using money that will enrich their relationship with each other and with God.

And if you have kids at home or know someone who does, pick up a copy of Trusted: Preparing Your Kids for a Lifetime of God-Honoring Money Management. It, too, explores the topic of temperament, helping you teach your kids about their temperament-related financial tendencies and many other financial topics.