CORRELATIONS BETWEEN ATTITUDE TO MONEY AND DEMOGRAPHIC VARIABLES ON A SAMPLE OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS
Despite the fact that money plays a central role in our lives, few empirical researches are directed at examining what factors can shape our attitude to money. It especially holds true for Hungary where such examinations are almost entirely missing. According to international research results certain demographic characteristics (gender, age, education, income etc.) and attitude to money show typical tendencies. Our paper summarises the most important results on the topic published so far and by using Yamauchi and Templer’s Money Attitude Scale (MAS) university students were asked ( n = 305) about their attitude to money. The results, in line with previous international analyses, show the correlation between attitude to money and certain demographic characteristics. For men money would rather mean the source of power and prestige while women are more money-consious looking for special offers and sales. Regarding age, the anxiety over money is the strongest for those over 35 when compared with other generations. At the same time, it is also them who are characterised by long-term financial considerations and financial as well as consumer consciousness. An interesting result is that willingness to save proved to be the strongest for those aged between 27 and 34 and the younger students would rather see money as a source of power and prestige. The increase in the income and age of the individual results in the decrease of suspicion and mistrust in financial terms. (Parallel with aging, the mistustful consumer behaviour is shifted to consumer consciousness.) The students’ work experience, or lack of it, and the amount of income are also decisive in determining financial attitude. The willingness to save is higher for those who partially or entirely are self-supportive and/or has a high level of income.