The Comfort Level Formula Part One
The following questions are often used by financial counselors to help people identify habits that may indicate a debt problem. Be honest with yourself as you read and answer the questions on this list.
• Do you put off paying your bills each month because you are worried that you won’t have enough money to cover them?
• Do you usually or frequently make only minimum monthly payments on your loans?
• Have you paid your rent or mortgage late because you don’t have enough money to pay when it is due?
• Are you charged to the limit on several or all of your credit cards?
• Do you sometimes find your credit card purchases denied because you are over the limit or behind on payments?
• Do you frequently charge things intending to pay them off laterbut then find you don’t have enough money at the end of the month to do so?
• Are you juggling bills each month just to get by?
• Do you use credit cards to finance purchases of everyday expenses, such as food, gas, or rent?
• Have you used a cash advance from one credit card to make a payment on another card?
• Have any of your credit cards been canceled by the issuer because you didn’t make payments on time or were chronically charging over the limit?
• Do you avoid letters, calls, billing statements, or collection notices from creditors?
• Have your utilities been turned off, or have you been threatened with shut-off notices, because you fell behind on your payments?
• Have you written checks knowing they were going to bounce?
• Do you frequently write checks for more than the balance in your account, knowing your overdraft line of credit will cover them?
• Do you often use your credit cards to pay for items you know you really can’t afford?
• When you feel depressed or bored do you go shopping?
• Are you afraid someone is going to find out how far in debt you are?
• When you are out with a group of people, do you ever pay for meals or entertainment with your credit card and then ask your friends to pay you their share of the bill with cash?
