Winnie Pooh creator A. A. Milne had great insights into human behavior, as demonstrated in his characters Tigger, Eeyore, and Winnie the Pooh. We all know real life Tiggers, Eeyores and Poohs. In fact, most of us can see some of these three in our own lives. Because our personalities often determine how we manage our money, we may be able to learn why we do things right and not so right by having guessing how Tigger, Eeyore and Pooh handle their personal finances.
Tigger
His predominant personality trait is his bounciness. Tigger is hyperactive and fun loving. He also loves playing detective and he prides himself on never getting lost.
Tiggers’s good points
- Is not afraid of failure
Tigger could be a great entrepreneur because he doesn’t mind trying new things. If it doesn’t work out, he will merrily bounce on to a new adventure. In Tigger’s words, “That’s what Tiggers do best. Hoo hoo hoo hoo!”
- Mystery solver
Tigger loves to play detective, a great trait for those who want to excel in personal finance. The adage “Never buy anything you don’t understand” could describe Tigger.
- Never gets lost
One who succeeds in his personal finance life is one who can set and keep short term and long term goals. It is easy to get sidetracked when the road of life has so many twists and turns, but Tigger is able to stay on target because he never gets lost.
Tigger’s not so good points
- Hyperactivity
Tigger’s “bounciness” causes his stock broker a great deal of consternation. Why? Tigger doesn’t have the patience to wait out down cycles in the market. If an investment doesn’t do well immediately, Tigger will simply bounce over to another one.
Eeyore
Eeyore is perpetually depressed. His cup is always half empty and he will always spot the dark cloud instead of the silver lining
Eeyore’s good points
- Not gullible
Eeyore will never, ever fall for a get rich quick scheme. Why? Because he doesn’t think anything good will ever happen to him.
Eeyore’s not so good points
- Lack of initiative
Will not start a new business, will not plan for retirement, will not even save because he doesn’t think anything good can happen to him.
- Can’t keep a job
It is not that Eeyore can’t be productive. It is just that his constant whining wears thin on his co-workers and his bosses. He tends to drag an entire team down with his downbeat personality.
Pooh
Winnie is low key, stable, lovable and loving. He tries to think the best of others, is not known for his high intellect, and struggles with one obsession: honey.
Pooh’s good points:
- Saving
Pooh people will have their savings automatically deducted from their pay checks. They will have a solid emergency fund and will not make big purchases without saving for them first.
- Investing
Pooh is OK at low key boring investments. He maintains a low risk, well balanced portfolio
- Solid employee
Pooh is respected and well liked by all. He will work hard because he wants to please everyone. He is a great team player.
Pooh’s not so good points
- Could be gullible
Because Pooh is a people pleaser, he is hesitant to say “no,” making him prey for telemarketers.
- Impulse spending
Pooh loves honey so much that he will blow his budget when he is anywhere near honey. If honey was electronic gadgets, new clothing, new power tools, new cars, etc, etc, Pooh would be perpetually blowing money he couldn’t afford to blow. Sound like anyone you might know?
How about you? Which personality traits of these three characters remind you of yourself? How does your personality type affect your handling of money?
i am mostly a pooh but i am not really gullible or a solid employee(i am self employed). But i think i was rock solid when i was still gainfully employed. I am very much into investing and wealth building and i never fall for get rich quick schemes because one way or another they end up ripping your face off and punching a gaping hole in your finances.
Great post Joe! I am definitely a Pooh! I have been a consistent saver and investor since I got my first job, and I am a dependable employee. But I am very gullible in that I give everyone the benefit of the doubt that they will be honest and will not try to take advantage of me. And I’m a bit of an impulse spender (my weakness use to be clothes luckily I kicked that habit however lately I have been spending a bit more on food and going out to eat but that’s because I’m six months pregnant – I even have the tummy that sticks out like Pooh.) 🙂
I see the successful investor as possessing a combination of Tigger’s enthusiasm and Eyeore’s caution. I don’t think Pooh really pulls it off. He takes a more moderate position. But not out of awareness of the benefits and dangers of the two extremes. I aim to be a more aware version of Pooh, an investor who knows when to tap into the enthusiasm of a Tigger and when to listen to the Eyeore-like voice of caution. I don’t say that I have achieved this perfect state!
Rob
@Rob,
I think you summarized these three well. In “the Millionaire Mind” by Thomas Stanley, most millionaires were willing to take risks as long as the risks were calculated and not left to chance. Sounds a bit like the enthusiasm of Tigger combined with the caution of Eeyore…without the gloomy mindset of Eeyore. I wonder if these millionaires consider themselves Tigger/Eeyore types. 🙂
@Lori,
Not all bad! I believe we are each born with a certain personality predisposition. Hopefully, we can learn who we are and celebrate the best of our personalities while working on the not so good aspects.
I sometimes need to work to keep the eeyore from becoming too dominant, what with the constant bombardment of bad news from all corners 😉
Kevin,
Yes, bad news can definitely bring out the Eeyore in us. How do you fight that inner eeyore?
It can be tough at times. Sometimes, I tell him it’s not so bad, that things could always be worse. Sometimes, I tell him that there are many good things to look forward to, and there are many things that I should be happy for and consider myself blessed.
Sometimes, I just need to tell him to put a lid on it 😉
@Kevin,
Yes, we need to keep that inner Eeyore in line. Sometimes I like to remind him that the things I dread never turn out as bad as I imagine. But I like your suggestion of telling him to keep a lid on it!
@Moneyedup,
Very funny application…getting into sticky messes. Good things for friends who help us get “unstuck”.
@Glass is Half,
About being married to someone who has a different personality…join the club. Most people do because we are attracted to the traits in them that we don’t have. Larry Burkett once said that if you marry someone exactly like you, one of you is unnecessary.
I used the Tigger/Eeyore personality type to describe someone who will take calculated risks (from The Millionaire Mind). I suppose the Eeyore/Tigger type would be less prone to take those calculated risks and would be more pessimistic about the outcome.
Is there any place for Piglet and other Pooh character? Absolutely. I expected someone to ask. Maybe I had better start a series using these and other cartoon characters.
Pooh! I am much more like Pooh than the other two (at least I think I am). I do want to please people but have learned not to do it to our detriment. Our honey is eating out…oh how hard it is to pass by the sweet aroma of food just calling for us to come in and partake!
Anne,
Yes, we do have our “honey” issues. Mine, as I mentioned before, is power tools. But don’t you think that recognizing your “honey” is a good way to deal with it?
And congrats about learning to please people without being to your detriment. Did you learn how to diplomatically say “no”?
Joe,
Yes, I agree that recognizing our “honey” is a good way to at least start dealing with it. The problem with honey though is it really is so tempting! Poor Pooh is always sidetracked by that honey. We’re learning to leave our debit cards (and cash and checks) at home when we’re headed out to help ourselves say no.
Thank you! For the most part I’ve learned to diplomatically say “no.” My husband teases me now and says I’m able to tell people to go to – well, an unhappy place – and they will thank me for it (because it was done in a nice way). Learning what is really important to me has helped tremendously because when I realize what I value I also am unwilling to let someone take that away.
Why is everyone saying I’m a poo? How sad. I would never like to be a poo.