How to Spot Warning Signs of Bankruptcy

Introduction

Bankruptcy is essentially an inability to meets one's financial commitments as they become due. Public stereotypes of bankruptcy are often negative and associated with failure, poor financial management and can often lead to the individual being stigmatised by family and friends.

It must be stressed however that many people face bankruptcy for a host of other reasons or unfortunate events which are not always entirely their own fault. Drawing upon my experience or dealing with individuals with serious financial difficulties, this article aims attempts to examine the warning signs associated with bankruptcy in the hope that it can be avoided. Warning signs to heed;

1. Ignoring the problem

This by far one of the largest contributory factors because few individuals like to believe that they are in financial difficulties for a host of different reasons. For some they fear telling a husband, wife or partner that money is problematic for fear of losing credibility with the person they love or ultimately the relationship. Other individuals are unable to accept that they have an obsessive disorder that leads to over extravagant spending. Still others have just never learnt to budget wisely in the first place.

2. Sleep Disorder/Anxiety

Stress can often cause anxiety or sleep disorders even amongst the most calm and collected individual. We all suffer from difficulties sleeping or anxiety at some time in our life but if you discover that you regularly fret about your financial circumstances and have difficulties getting off to sleep or wake up in the night worrying about money then this is a sure sign that you need to seek some professional help to address your financial budgeting.

3. Always in Overdraft or maxed out on your credit cards

It is now socially acceptable now to have significant credit card debts and whilst the use of credit is generally not a problem you should be concerned if you continually find yourself trapped in a cycle of debt where next month's wage packet only just meets last month's debt.

4. Hiding Bank Statements

Loved one's are often best placed to identify warning signs of bankruptcy in their wife, husband or partner. If you observe the person you share your financial resources with getting to the post each morning it could be a sign of financial difficulties and they may be hiding financial information from you. Of course this conclusion could perhaps only be reached if some of the other warning signs discussed earlier are also apparent.

5. Regularly asking for a salary advance