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Measuring financial well-being: A guide to using the CFPB Financial Well-Being Scale

Following a rigorous research effort to develop a consumer-driven definition of financial well-being, the CFPB developed and tested a set of questions–a “scale”–to measure financial well-being.  The scale is designed to allow practitioners and researchers to accurately and consistently quantify, and therefore observe, something that is not directly observable–the extent to which someone’s financial situation and the financial capability that they have developed provide them with security and freedom of choice. This guide describes the research behind the CFPB Financial Well-Being Scale and provides detailed steps for using it, including how to score individuals’ responses and compare their scores.

User guides

User guide

Quick guide En español

Financial Well-Being Scale questionnaires and scoring materials

Standard version questionnaire and scoring worksheet  | En español

Abbreviated version questionnaire and scoring worksheet  | En español

Scale development technical report

Learn more about how the scale was developed and tested.