more food for thought

A good post from a frugal English gal I like:
(original post can be found here)

Sure-fire ways to mess up your own finances

Keeping up with the Joneses

Keeping up with the Beckhams

Kid yourself that 'want' means 'need'

Never make a budget

Regularly spend more than you earn (unless you're making an investment in the future such as study, training, setting up own business, doing up a house to increase its value etc)

Never shop around

Don't read the small print on agreements

Be too proud to ask for explanations or help if you don't understand something, or are in over your head

Avoid opening statements and bills

Make minimum monthly repayments or less

Take out credit or borrow from friends knowing that you have no intention of paying it back

Believe that a brand name always means top quality

Demand to have everything now, no saving up or waiting

Go on a spending binge whenever you feel a bit down or bored (especially if you call it 'retail therapy')

Tell yourself that someone else will sort it all out later

Take out extended warranties on everything

Take out payment protection insurance without knowing what it is or what it does

Think you're too smart to educate yourself about personal finance

Expect the government to take care of you in your old age

Be proud of a lack of basic life skills in: budgeting, cooking, DIY etc

Spend like crazy because you want to 'enjoy your teens/twenties/thirties' before you settle down

Think that 'Footballers' Wives' or 'Sex and the City' present really cool lifestyles that you should aspire to

Fall for the fake concept that personal finance is all about quick fixes and get rich quick schemes

Confuse money with love, respect, status, safety, security, sexiness or happiness (as opposed to units of currency that you simply spend, save, invest or give away)

Hide from or ignore creditors who are taking out proceedings against you

Blame other people when things go wrong