The pros and cons of how you interact with The Storyteller on a road trip and a pit stop location you won’t want to miss.
You probably already know your money personality (if you don’t, find out here). But what do you know about other people’s money personalities?
Did you know?
Almost 15% of the American population is The Storyteller, making it the most prominent of the 10 money personalities.
And because we all don’t have the same money personality, we created these guides to help you improve your relationships with each of the 10 money personalities. This guide focuses on how you interact with the Storyteller and, to give you some real-world application, how you both handle a road trip together.
The Storyteller
First, for all you non-Storytellers, who is The Storyteller?
The Storyteller talks to you on planes, makes big speeches at weddings and buys drinks for the whole bar. They don’t ask for attention, but rather, they command it. Do you know an enthusiastic, energetic and all-around people-person? There’s a good chance he or she is The Storyteller.
Will you end up holding hands and swaying in rhythm to “Kumbaya”? Or will tensions run higher than the treadmill on the International Space Station? Keep reading to find out, plus discover your can’t-miss pit stop!
Choose Your Money Personality
The Adventurer — The Guardian — The Architect — The Free Spirit — The Storyteller — The Oasis — The Ambassador — The Contrarian — The Spark — The Rock
The Adventurer
Why You Just Might Become Road Trip Besties
- You and The Storyteller crave new and different experiences. There isn’t an obscure roadside attraction, weird local festival or “World’s Biggest…” the two of you can avoid.
- If your radio shorts out on day 3, don’t worry your road-weary head. From meaningful talks about life to acapella duets, you’ll never be bored with The “One time a buddy and I …” Storyteller at your side.
- You have a tendency to get distracted when multiple options are available and not see them through, but The Storyteller is good at keeping you focused on what’s right in front of you. Together, your creative spirits lead to more fun than you can imagine. And you’ve got a pretty good imagination.
Why One of You Might Lock the Other Out of the Car
- Your shared desire to see everything and explore every rabbit hole could double or triple your travel time. Plan a few extra days into your itinerary to see that ghost town or the world’s biggest ball of twine.
- Neither of you is afraid to spend money on new, exciting experiences, so make sure you keep an eye on your road trip budget. But if you do find yourself broke and lost in rural Kentucky, you both will probably still have a great time and tell the story for years.
- Just because you both love interesting people, places and things doesn’t mean you’re as excited as The Storyteller to see a documentary about Flintstones Vitamins. Either flip a coin or alternate who chooses activities.
Exit the highway for … the New Orleans San Fermin Festival.
Worth the stop because of … the 350 Big Easy Rollergirls wielding wiffleball bats as they chase you through the streets. This quirky festival is the New Orleans Running of the Bulls and will satisfy the need to experience new things for both of you.
The Guardian
Why You Just Might Become Road Trip Besties
- You love routines and plans, but The Storyteller has a knack for spontaneity. Embrace this about him or her and you’ll have more fun than you could have imagined.
- Your companion handles rest stops, attractions, motels — basically everything — differently than you do. But you both have a stockpile of stories from road trips past, so you’ll gab the hours away no matter what.
- You always ate truck stop beef jerky on your childhood road trips, but The Storyteller likes asking strangers about the local fare. Go ahead, try some shrimp-flavored salt water taffy along with your Slim Jim. It might be surprisingly good (But it probably won’t be).
Why One of You Might Lock the Other Out of the Car
- You’ve mapped out your stops like a railroad and synched them to match up with your meticulously curated playlist so you’ll always stay on track. The Storyteller, on the other hand, stops whenever and lives by the shuffle button. If you can keep an open schedule — and ear — this won’t derail your road trip.
- You two probably have different budgets for time and money. Yours is written in stone and The Storyteller’s is written in dry erase marker. Decide ahead of time whether you’re going to be firm or flexible when The Storyteller asks for 5 more minutes or 5 more dollars.
- You know your arrival date. The Storyteller does too but sees it as more of an arrival estimation. Make sure he or she knows how important the timeline is, or you can find yourself in a constant battle against their nonexistent clock.
Exit the highway for … a day at Action Park in Vernon Township, New Jersey.
Worth the stop because of … the nostalgia factor. You’ll love the old-school vibes and The Storyteller will love all the people and one-of-a-kind rides.
The Architect
Why You Just Might Become Road Trip Besties
- Storytellers love to tell stories, as their name implies. You love order, structure and details. The two of you are going to create road trip stories honed to precision through specific questions and great attention to detail. No wonder you’re taking this show on the road.
- Your world tends to favor order and structure, but The Storyteller’s is rarely in order and barely structured. If you can embrace your copilot’s desire to seek out all things new and different and random, you’ll likely have a great time at the National Armwrestling Championships.
- The Storyteller wants to meet and befriend outliers, and you like to ask questions until your curiosities are satisfied. Together, you’ll have a great time discovering all the mysterious nooks and crannies the open road offers.
Why One of You Might Lock the Other Out of the Car
- Storytellers are spontaneous. Plans aren’t. Build some leeway into your arrival time to account for a 3- to 4-hour pit stop to explore the Mall of America or tube down the Guadalupe River with friendly strangers The Storyteller met while filling up the gas tank yesterday.
- The Storyteller loves new experiences and isn’t afraid to spend on them (“Budgets shmudgets!”). Keep a separate account so you won’t have to worry about The Storyteller breaking the bank.
- Storytellers aren’t renowned for their organizational skills, so the car may be in grave danger of clutter. Stay flexible and maybe take a few minutes at every stop to toss out trash that’s been accumulated to save yourself time and headache later.
Exit the highway for … the Forrest Fenn Treasure in The Rocky Mountains.
Worth the stop because of … the adventure and money-making potential. With your meticulous planning skills and The Storyteller’s knack for outside-the-box thinking, we think your odds of finding the treasure are better together.
The Free Spirit
Why You Just Might Become Road Trip Besties
- The only dead air on your road trip will be when you drive out of range of the radio stations. Between your laid-back appreciation of virtually everything and The Storyteller’s enthusiasm for telling and hearing stories, this road trip is conversation heaven.
- “I Spy,” “License Plate Bingo” and “I Never.” Whether it’s the standards or old car games with new twists (License Plate Bingo but in alphabetical order), you both are going to have fun no matter what.
- There isn’t a roadside attraction, tourist distraction or strange interaction for which you both aren’t willing to pull a dramatic U-turn to experience.
Why One of You Might Lock the Other Out of the Car
- Is a clock more important than the fun you’re having? (The answer is no.) But if you’ve made plans to arrive somewhere at a particular time, keep each other accountable. It takes longer than you might think to pick fresh strawberries and turn them into ice cream.
- Neither you nor The Storyteller is thrilled to make a road trip budget, but a little bit of planning can go a long way in this case. Lay out your resources and plan a daily budget. You might even find it helps you narrow down your fun experiences.
- You and The Storyteller are already on the road when you realize you’ve only packed 18 socks, three T-shirts, a Frisbee and a framed picture of Burt Reynolds, and neither of remembered to book a hotel. Keep calm, stay flexible and embrace the spontaneity to maximize your fun.
Exit the highway for … the 127 Yard Sale along US Highway 127.
Worth the stop because of … the 690-mile, five-state long yard sale (it’s the world’s largest). Both you and The Storyteller are so carefree that you could spend (read: will spend) days lost in this five-state long sea of miscellaneous treasures — and be completely content with that.
The Storyteller
Why You Just Might Become Road Trip Besties
- Just because you both share the same money personality doesn’t mean you’re the same. But you are both Storytellers, so conversation comes naturally. While your interests may differ, you’ll be dialoguing, possibly non-stop, for the entire trip. WARNING: You may never sleep.
- You both are always heading toward the sounds of people, which makes road trips amazing. Both of you will want to stop at a do-it-yourself glassblowing studio and Harry’s House of Honeybaked Ham. No questions asked.
- You both love meeting new people and making new friends. You’ll get invited to everything from local city council election parties to skeet shooting on a houseboat. You’re both prepared for any crazy adventure.
Why One of You Might Lock the Other Out of the Car
- Storytellers are notorious for their love of a good time and their spontaneity, so you both might have decided to do this road trip yesterday. So make sure you triple check everything before you take off or you may end up with suitcases filled only toothpaste.
- You’ll talk about everything interesting — family trees, tree families, free tamales, etc. — but make sure not to forget the more boring things like driving schedules, who pays for gas/snacks and car cleanliness/maintenance.
- It can be hard to find a moment of peace in a car with another Storyteller. Try to schedule some time apart. 4 days in — no matter how comfortable and spacious the salesman promised the interior is — your car will feel like you’re trapped in a matchbox.
Exit the highway for … the Brewgrass Festival in Asheville, North Carolina.
Worth the stop because of … the excellent people-watching. You’ll have so much fun talking to people about beer, music and life at this beer and bluegrass festival in the lush mountain town.
The Oasis
Why You Just Might Become Road Trip Besties
- The Storyteller is spontaneous — like “get you invited to a clown college graduation party” spontaneous — so prepare to have your plans blown up more than once (possibly into balloon animals). But if you can embrace the enthusiasm for new people and adventures, you’ll have a great time.
- If you ever catch yourself falling asleep or needing a pick me up, The Storyteller is right there next to you, ever ready to fill the silence with entertaining tales. Or road games. Or music. Or really, any type of noise in general.
- Because The Storyteller is so friendly to strangers, you’ll end up experiencing so much more than you ever would alone. And what are road trips for besides experiencing new and different things? If you had wanted to get there fast, you’d have flown.
Why One of You Might Lock the Other Out of the Car
- You and The Storyteller differ wildly in how you recharge your batteries. You recharge in your alone time. The Storyteller recharges in people time. Schedule regular pit stops or you may get a dire case of cabin fever.
- Budgets can be tough to stick to with The Storyteller being prone to spending money in social situations. Be warned: taking a break from driving to explore the local scene may result in great stories and wallets filled with nothing but moths in the morning. If the budget is getting tight, try to schedule stops where The Storyteller can meet people without burning through funds.
- Don’t let The Storyteller control all the fun. You have things you want to see too. Stay strong on the things you want to see because The Storyteller will probably be excited about any adventure.
Exit the highway for … the San Francisco Silent Film Festival.
Worth the stop because of … the peace and quiet. If you need a break from the constant chatter of The Storyteller, what could be better than a silent movie? This 4-day event offers culture and quiet for you and enough events and people for The Storyteller to make a dozen new friends by the day’s end.
The Ambassador
Why You Just Might Become Road Trip Besties
- You love to be included and The Storyteller loves including people. You will be two peas exploring the open road and all its highways, byways and driveways.
- A road trip with The Storyteller always means one thing — fun and interesting pit stops. Prepare yourself for repeated shouts of ”Pull over! ” If you can handle the impulsivity of it, you’ll have a great time.
- Even if you don’t take any detours, you won’t have a boring moment in the car. Storytellers are champions of killing time. “I Spy,” “50 States of License Plates” and “20 Questions” are just the entryway in The Storyteller’s house of games, but there are also “Lost Puppy,” “What Am I Thinking?” and “Who’s That Guy From That Thing?”
Why One of You Might Lock the Other Out of the Car
- It’s easy to get swept up by The Storyteller’s charisma. But then you’re just tagging along on their road trip instead of having a road trip together. Don’t shy away from asking to stop to have your picture taken in front of the house Noah renovates in “The Notebook” if that’s what you want to do.
- Random quests are fun, but they can get you into a pickle if you’re trying to make it somewhere by a certain time. Make The Storyteller aware of the schedule so you can both stick to it. But stay flexible just in case.
- Make sure to establish early how often you’ll alternate driving. For sanity’s sake, have a hard cutoff at 2 or 3 hours. This will keep energy high and stress levels low.
Exit the highway for … the UFO Festival in Roswell, New Mexico.
Worth the stop because of … the weird fun to be had. If you believe aliens have visited our blue marble, or even if you don’t, enjoy one of the many exhibits and booths, a 5k/10k, an alien costume contest and music concerts.
The Contrarian
Why You Just Might Become Road Trip Besties
- The normal path is just so boring and predictable to you and The Storyteller. Highways? Let’s use backroads. Google Maps? That’s how the NSA tracks you! Sure, it’ll take longer, but neither you nor The Storyteller are worried about your arrival time.
- You’ll never run out of spirited discussions to talk about with The Storyteller. You may have different viewpoints, but what’s a good conversation without some back and forth?
- Don’t worry about finding what to do or where to eat. The Storyteller is on it. In five minutes, you’ll have enough recommendations for a week’s vacation. You’ll never eat at a chain restaurant when you’re with The Storyteller.
Why One of You Might Lock the Other Out of the Car
- In the car, you two may run into some agreement issues. Deciding what music to listen to or where to stop for food can lead to unnecessary arguments. Try alternating who chooses what.
- The Storyteller makes decisions based on the people they’ll meet while you like to expand past the people to what you’ll see, learn and experience. Maybe there’s a Museum of Conversation out there that’ll be perfect for both of you.
- You’ve written your road trip budget in permanent marker, but that doesn’t mean The Storyteller won’t constantly try to smudge it. So before you lock in your budget, make a little room for The Storyteller being The Storyteller and taking you to places you didn’t plan.
Exit the highway for … the World Championship Shovel Races in Angel Fire, New Mexico.
Worth the stop because of … the totally unique thrill factor. Sure, you can use a snow shovel to clear your driveway. Or you can use it to hurtle down a mountain at close to 60 mph. The World Championship Shovel Races welcome all ages and abilities to compete for cash prizes and bragging rights.
The Spark
Why You Might Just Become Road Trip Besties
- Storytellers thrive in social settings — bars, parties, in line at the DMV — while you’re a more one-on-one type. Your conversations will be as intense as they are many. Who knew you could have a meaningful discussion about if you pronounce the “t” in often?
- You won’t be spending your precious detour time exploring the Museum of Sidewalk Cracks That Resemble Celebrities. You and The Storyteller will always be around the fun, energized and lively people.
- You have a tendency to constantly worry about the smaller road trip things — tire pressure, MPG, weather forecasts — while The Storyteller is the opposite. This works great because you cancel out each other’s bad habits.
Why One of You Might Lock the Other Out of the Car
- Storytellers are never in a hurry to get to their destination. So give your schedule some wiggle room, and you’ll be surprised by the stress-free fun you’ll have to pull over for a few hours to pick blueberries.
- Storytellers are all about meeting new people and having new experiences, so don’t be surprised to wake up from a nap now riding with Whistlin’ Wendel, a bearded musician hitchhiking home to Toledo for Christmas, which is 100 miles out of your way.
- Storytellers can get caught up in moments and overspend, and you’re no stranger to overspending either. When you don’t have your eyes on the road, keep at least one on your road trip’s budget, or you could end up hitchhiking like Whistlin’ Wendel.
Exit the highway for … Zero Gravity in Dallas, Texas.
Worth the stop because of … a 130-foot free fall, harness-free. Zero Gravity is like a falling dream come to life with its rides — launching, dropping and swinging you at incredible speeds and heights — that push the limits of fear and fun.
The Rock
Why You Might Just Become Road Trip Besties
- The Storyteller’s energy pairs well with your relaxed, calm approach. You won’t encourage each other’s bad impulses, but both of you’ll get each other out of your comfort zones and do that old road trip standard — bond. Just like in the movies.
- If you can let The Storyteller take the lead when navigating, you’ll definitely see things you’d never have expected. For every detour to a vegetable museum, there are four stops for breathtaking views and unforgettable fruit stands with watermelon so delicious fresh you might go taste-blind.
- If you’re worried that you might get bored over the next 1,000 miles or so, don’t be. Whatever you like to do, The Storyteller is with you. Talk? Listen to music? Play car games? You’re riding with a one-person boredom-slaying machine.
Why One of You Might Lock the Other Out of the Car
- The Storyteller is like free coffee refills — a bottomless supply of energy. Schedule breaks to recharge and let The Storyteller explore and meet people.
- You told everyone you’d be there on Thursday, but, to The Storyteller, Thursday can become next Tuesday faster than you can say, “You entered us into The Iowa State Fair Butter Carving Competition!?! Why?”
- The Storyteller isn’t known for organization. They can be like raccoons — cute bandits always chasing the next shiny thing. This can mean that your car can easily get cluttered with empty food containers, various truckstop knickknacks and the occasional hitchhiker.
Exit the highway for … the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado.
Worth the stop because of … the paranormal activity and “Here’s Johnny!”. You’re unflappable. The Storyteller? Less so. But you’ll help each other keep it together as you stay overnight at one of the most haunted hotels in the country.
If you’ve read all the way down here but still don’t know YOUR money personality, give Joy a try.
