Valentine’s Day Quiz: How to Tell If You’re Dating A Deadbeat (Yes, Really.)

Does your current honey have their financial act together?

Yes, your current snuggle bunny may be putting on a show for you now, but can that person really maintain their current lifestyle when you finally decide to tie the knot?  Are they the type that knows how to pull back on the financial throttle when they have to?

If you don’t know, you better find out.

After all, who wants to marry some one who is financially clueless?

Who wants to be doomed to a financial quagmire by somebody who refuses to live within their means?

So, Len, how can I find out if my significant other is a financial loser before its too late?

There are warning signs, you know.

For example, last month I reviewed an excellent book by Manisha Thakor and Sharon Kedar on how to foster a healthy financial relationship with your significant other.  The book is called Get Financially Naked: How to Talk Money with Your Honey.

In it, they had a quiz entitled “Happy Valentine’s Day – Are You Dating a Deadbeat?”  Their quiz asked five specific questions to help you determine “if your partner’s outer public image is an accurate reflection of their financial reality.”

Here now are Thakor and Kedar’s five potential warning signs that you might just be dating a deadbeat.  (Of course, I couldn’t help but add a few more potential deadbeat indicators of my own for good measure…)

1. Does your sweetie always insist on picking up the check at a big dinner and/or throw down his or her credit card without even looking at the bill? According to the authors, this could be the sign of a financial show-off living beyond their means in an attempt to impress you.

2. Does your sweetie lease his or her car? Although there are a few occasions where leasing makes sense, it often is another sign of trying to live beyond your means.  Those of you who lease a car, please – send your letters to Thakor and Kedar.

3. Does your sweetie have a large but sparsely furnished home? According to the authors, this is a sign your sweetie has a case of what is called down in Texas “Big Hat, No Cattle.”

4. Does your sweetie avoid answering calls on his or her cell phone? It could be a sign they are avoiding bill collectors.

5. Does your sweetie ask you to buy or cosign things in your name, promising to pay you back? This one is pretty obvious, don’t you think?

6. Do you notice your sweetie has a lot of bills marked “urgent” or “past due?” Come on now.  This is a big red flag.

7. Does your sweetie have bills in somebody else’s name? It could be an ex-sweetie, or a sign that your sweetie couldn’t get his/her own account on their own.  Then again, I guess it could also mean that the postman just delivered the bill to the wrong person.  (On second thought, you better verify that address before you get too accusatory.)

8. Has your sweetie admitted to you that his or her credit cards are maxed out? This, too, is a great indicator of somebody having trouble living within their means.

9.  Does your sweetie have a Cash Call refrigerator magnet with Gary Coleman’s picture on it? You know Cash Call – your lender of last resort.  “Cash Call: When nobody else will loan you money. Not even your relatives.” What you talkin’ bout Willis?

10. Does your sweetie have a “live-in maid” that goes by the name “Mom?” If you say “yes” to this one – and you happen to be in your sweetie’s house right now – for God’s sake, listen to me very carefully.  Put down the mouse.  Then calmly walk out the door and get away.  As fast as you possibly can.