As a nation, we're not as creditworthy as we used to be. Citing data from market researcher Synovate, The Wall Street Journal reports that banks have sent out just 1.4 billion credit card offers this year. That's down from over 6 billion in 2005.
Part of this has to do with Bank of America
That's understandable. For even though some consumers have become quite frugal, those who still use their credit cards may be piling it on. According to CreditKarma.com's November U.S. Consumer Credit Score Climate Report, among those who have credit cards, the average balance increased 4% from October and has risen 14% since June.
What if you're married to this person? You may be living with a financial Tiger Woods. Here are five telltale signs:
5. He responds to every credit card offer, no matter how lousy it is.
4. He promises he'll turn his massive credit card tab into "good" debt by tapping home equity, only to run up those cards again once the slate is (temporarily) clean.
3. Only after the collection agencies start calling does he confess that he made mistakes and betrayed your trust.
2. But, oddly, he also insists that the matter be resolved privately. As in: without telling you anything.
And the number one sign your spouse might be a financial Tiger Woods (drum roll, please) ... each day brings a call from a new creditor claiming to be owed money.
If any of these signs sound familiar, it may be time for an intervention. This article may help. Only when your spouse begins to think of every dollar as an investment will he reconsider mortgaging your future together.
