Debtors Anonymous Twelve Signs Debt

1. Being unclear about your financial situation: not knowing account balances, monthly expenses, loan interest rates, fees, fines or contractual obligations.
2. Frequently "borrowing" items, such as books, pens or small amounts of money from friends or others, and failing to return them.
3. Poor savings habits: not planning for taxes, retirement or other not-recurring but predictable items, and then feeling surprised when they come due; a "live for today, don't worry about tomorrow" attitude.
4. Compulsive shopping: being unable to pass up a "good deal"; making impulsive purchases; leaving price tags on clothes so they can be returned; not using items you've purchased.
5. Difficulty in meeting basic financial or personal obligations, and/or an inordinate sense of accomplishment when such obligations are met.
6. Having a different feeling when buying things on credit than when paying cash.
7. Living in chaos and drama around money: using one credit card to pay another; bouncing cheques; always having a financial crisis to contend with.
8. A tendency to live on the edge: living paycheque to paycheque; taking risks with health and car insurance coverage; writing cheques hoping money will appear to cover them.
9. Unwarranted inhibition and embarrassment in what should be a normal discussion of money.
10. Overworking or under-earning: working extra hours to earn money to pay creditors; using time inefficiently; taking jobs below your skill and education level.
11. An unwillingness to care for and value yourself: living in self-imposed deprivation; denying your own basic needs in order to pay your creditors.
12. A feeling or hope that someone will take care of you if necessary, so that you won't really get into serious financial trouble, that there will always be someone you can turn to.

Adopted by DA World Conference, 1999-2000