Are you a saver or a spender?

According to a new research study, spending is in your genes. (iStock)

Whether you're spending like a seasoned shopaholic or hoarding money under your mattress like a veteran Scrooge, your spending style is likely predetermined, Time magazine reports.  

According to new research conducted by Stephan Siegel at the University of Washington and Henrik Cronqvist at Claremont McKenna College, spending is in your genes.

As part of their study, the two academics examined 15,000 sets of Swedish twins, and learned that even if the siblings had lost touch with each other, they still exhibited the same attitudes and patterns when it came to money.

Though the study's authors do acknowledge that both parents and life experience can help shape one's spending style in younger years, they argue by the time a person is 40, those habits that are predisposed will likely take over.

"There is overwhelming evidence across the board that the genes matter and that between one-third and 50 per cent of our behavior is determined by our genes," Siegel concludes in the study.

The report proceeds to suggest that trying to change one's spending may not only be difficult, but also pointless.

Do you think it's possible to change one's spending habits? Why or why not? Are you a saver or a spender? Share your comments below.

(This survey is not scientific. Results are based on readers' responses.)