8 Signs You're Flirting with Financial Ruin

The line between a future of financial solvency and one of distress is thinner than you might think.

Unfortunately, many people don't realize they're on the wrong side of that divide until it's too late, says Jessica Cecere, South Florida regional president for CredAbility, a nonprofit credit counseling agency.

"I call it ostrich syndrome. You know that things aren't good, but you just don't want to face up to it right now," she says.

But the earlier you realize you're having issues with debt, the better chance you have of fixing them, Cecere says.

Bankrate offers eight signs you're flirting with financial ruin. If four or more of these signs sound familiar, it's time to seek help, Cecere says.

Cecere recommends looking for a free, nonprofit credit counseling service. You can search for a free or low-cost counseling provider in your area by visiting the National Foundation for Credit Counseling website or by calling (800) 338-2227.

Another alternative is contacting a fee-only financial planner. The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors maintains a database of fee-only planners on its website.

Here are the telltale signs you're heading for a financial fall.

Frank Boucher, principal of Boucher Financial Planning Services in Reston, Va., says habitually running up late fees typically has one of two causes.

"If you're paying late because you can't pay on time, that's a clear indicator (of future financial trouble)," Boucher says. "If you're paying late fees because you're just lazy about it, you're throwing money away."

A more serious symptom of financial distress is juggling monthly bills by making payments big enough and frequently enough to keep services flowing, but never paying balances on time and in full, Cecere says. Your debt worsens every month as balances grow.

"You're thinking ahead of time, 'I don't really have enough money to pay my bills,' and you're sort of living paycheck to paycheck," she says.

Basing your plans for financial stability on a future payoff, such as an inheritance, a run-up in the value of your home or a big tax refund can put your finances in dire straits.

It's also a symptom of a bigger problem -- rationalizing when it comes to your debt, Boucher says.

"You're planning on a bonus that doesn't materialize, or what we saw happening not too long ago, with people saying, 'I can always suck more equity out of my property,'" he says. "If you think like that, you're really setting yourself up for a fall."

Credit cards are best used as a convenient way to make purchases without having to carry cash and to earn rewards, Cecere says.

"If you're a savvy consumer and you can use credit cards and you can get points for them ... then you're charging groceries and gas, but you're paying for them at the end of the month," she says.

If your credit card debt is consistently rising and you're unable to make more than the minimum payments, your balance will continue to rise. And if you fail to make the minimum payment for more than 60 days, your rate could jump, making your financial condition even worse.

While cardholders can stave off trouble temporarily by making the minimum payments or shifting balances to new cards, any kind of sudden change in your finances, such as a rise in gas prices, can destabilize your finances, Cecere says.

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