| How often do you see ads promoting frugality, | | | | Save little, if anything. |
| saving, or self-denial? If you're struggling to keep up | | | | Rarely, if ever, take time to balance your checkbook, |
| with the Joneses, you may need to reevaluate your | | | | check out your credit reports and credit score, or |
| friendships. The Joneses may be driving you straight | | | | maintain a household budget. Such money attitudes |
| to the poorhouse. | | | | are self destructive, and they do catch up with |
| - Dealing with your emotional spending | | | | youeventually. |
| Maybe you spend money for emotional reasons. For | | | | Two major credit-reporting companies operate in the |
| example, think about what you do when you feel | | | | United Kingdom: Experian and Equifax. Reviewing the |
| sad or disappointed, or when you want to celebrate | | | | information in your credit report from each company |
| a success. Do you head to the mall? Do you click on | | | | is an excellent way to see your true financial picture. |
| your favourite retail Web site? Do you treat yourself | | | | For a comprehensive survey of your |
| to an expensive meal or enjoy a weekend get-away | | | | creditworthiness, order a copy of yourcredit report |
| even though you really can't afford it? If so, spending | | | | from both of the credit-reporting agencies, not just |
| may have become a sort of addiction. | | | | from one. |
| Everyone likes to reward themselves from time to | | | | Each report may contain slightly different information |
| time, but doing so continually is a problem, and losing | | | | about you, partly because not all creditors report all |
| track of whether you can afford to treat yourself is | | | | consumer account payment information to both |
| a cause for real concern. | | | | agencies. |
| - personal finance living for the moment | | | | The credit report you get is the same one that your |
| Maybe you spend money for emotional reasons. For | | | | current creditors and potential future creditors use to |
| example, think about what you do when you feel | | | | make decisions about you. The more negative |
| sad or disappointed, or when you want to celebrate | | | | information is in your credit histories (such as late bills |
| a success. Do you head to the mall? Do you click on | | | | or accounts, accounts in collection, accounts that |
| your favourite retail Web site? Do you treat yourself | | | | your creditors have charged off asuncollectible, CCJs, |
| to an expensive meal or enjoy a weekend get-away | | | | and so on), the worse your personal finances are. |
| even though you really can't afford it? If so, spending | | | | Your existing creditors may use the information to |
| may have become a sort of addiction. | | | | decide whether to raise the interest rates you are |
| Everyone likes to reward themselves from time to | | | | paying, lower your credit limits, or even cancel your |
| time, but doing so continually is a problem, and losing | | | | credit. And whenever you apply for new credit, the |
| track of whether you can afford to treat yourself is | | | | creditors review your credit record information to |
| a cause for real concern. | | | | decide whether to approve your application, |
| - personal finance living for the moment | | | | howmuch credit to give to you, the interest rate you |
| Maybe your problem is that you "live for today" and | | | | must pay, and so on. |
| don't think about tomorrow. In some ways, living in | | | | Many insurance companies, landlords, and employers |
| the moment is great, sure but not if you turn a blind | | | | also review your credit record information. If they |
| eye toward your future. How do you know if you've | | | | find a lot of negative information, insurance |
| got this attitude toward money? You probably: | | | | companies may not agree to insure you or may |
| Use credit too much. | | | | charge you higher-than-normal premiums; landlords |
| Don't try to pay off your credit balances as quickly | | | | may refuse to rent to you; and employers may not |
| as possible, telling yourself there will be plenty of time | | | | want to hire you or to give you the promotion you |
| to do that later. | | | | applied for. |