Debt warning signs

There are a number of warning signs that indicate that you are getting into trouble with money. Run through our checklist and see how many categories you fit into. If it is a large number then perhaps you need to think about getting your finances under control.

The money runs out before the month does

Your credit card, store cards and overdrafts are at their limits

You get nervous when you pay with a card in case it is refused

You keep signing up for credit cards at 0% interest for six months to keep going

You stop getting credit card junk mail because you are blacklisted

You continually pay the minimum on your cards

You can't even pay the minimum on your student loan

You juggle money between accounts - one to pay another

You hate the sound of the post hitting the mat

You stop opening the post - particularly bank statements

Your bank starts phoning you at home

You argue about money

You tell yourself lies about how much you owe

You take out a loan to go on holiday to get away from it all

You go out on a mad spending spree with your weekly food budget allowance to make yourself feel better

You forget that a mortgage is a debt

If you find yourself in this situation you need to act quickly before things get worse. You may be able to organize your own way out of it by consolidating your debt and paying it off over a period of time. And if the problem hasn't got too bad you may find that switching to a credit card with a lower rate of interest will make it easier to pay off.

To find out how much a loan to consolidate your debts would cost check our loans finder and to find out if you can find a cheaper credit card use our helpful credit card tool. But if your debts have got beyond this and you are in sneed of more drastic action you need to follow the Citizens Advice Bureau's top tips.