How To Identify A Broke Guy: 15 Telltale Signs.

When contemplating entering a relationship with someone, numerous factors require careful consideration. These encompass aspects like personality traits and compatibility, but financial considerations also hold significance. 

This is not a matter of seeking financial gain or a wealthy partner; rather, it pertains to practicality and the establishment of a stable foundation. 

It's essential to acknowledge that financial issues can exert considerable stress on a relationship, and it's advisable to address these concerns promptly.

The intention behind this video is not to pass judgment on individuals facing financial difficulties, as we all experience such challenges at some point in our lives. 

These challenges may arise from external circumstances, unwise decisions, or the natural ebb and flow of life. The objective is to identify recurring patterns that indicate ongoing financial instability.

What we aim to highlight are indicators that suggest a man may be consistently grappling with financial instability, commonly referred to as signs of a financially challenged individual.

1. His Living Situation Seems Temporarily Permanent.

He could be crashing on a friend's couch, residing with his parents, or sharing a flat with a group of people. Please don't misunderstand me; living with parents or sharing a flat can be entirely justifiable in many cases. 

Nevertheless, when he starts referring to his friend's couch as his "permanent temporary home," that's a warning sign.

Occasionally, circumstances beyond someone's control lead them into less-than-ideal living arrangements. But if he has remained in the same situation for an extended period without a clear plan to progress, it may signal financial instability.

The real giveaway is how he discusses his living situation. Is he completely at ease with it, perhaps a bit too comfortable? Does he seem lacking in the motivation to make changes? Keep an eye out for signs of contentment and a dearth of ambition to enhance his circumstances.

2. Eating Out is a Rarity.

One's financial situation can often be discerned through their food choices and dining habits. When an individual consistently opts for homemade meals or simple fare like instant noodles instead of dining out, it can be an indicative cue. 

While homemade meals offer health benefits, a strong aversion to restaurants or cafes may hint at financial challenges.

Do they frequently propose staying in rather than going out? Do they derive more pleasure from hosting dinners than going to restaurants? Observe their enthusiasm when it comes to footing the bill. 

Hesitancy to cover expenses or an insistence on selecting the most budget-friendly items on the menu could be signs of a limited budget.

Many people choose home-cooked meals or economical dining options due to personal habits, preferences, or health concerns. However, when this behavior aligns with other indicators on this list, it warrants a closer look.

3. Sale Shopping is His Favorite Sport.

Another indicator to be attentive to is his shopping behavior. Is he consistently on the lookout for bargains and discounts? Does he possess an almost uncanny ability to pinpoint the most affordable items in any store?

If the response is affirmative, it may imply that he's living from one paycheck to the next. Once again, there's nothing inherently wrong with practicing frugality and making sound financial decisions, qualities from which many of us can benefit. 

However, a persistent quest for sales and discounts, even when it's not essential, might indicate that his financial situation is quite constrained.

Pay attention to the way he discusses his shopping outings. Does he take pride in his prowess for finding bargains, possibly to the point of obsession? If this is the case, it could be more about financial necessity than merely deriving enjoyment from the excitement of discovering a good deal.

4. Credit Card? What’s That?

We find ourselves in an era where cashless transactions have become the standard practice. Credit cards, in particular, enjoy widespread usage due to their convenience and associated rewards.

However, if an individual consistently favors cash or debit cards over credit, it might indicate financial instability. Is he unwavering in his choice to pay with cash? Does he steer clear of discussions regarding credit cards? These behaviors could imply a negative credit history or, worse, a significant burden of credit card debt.

While many individuals have valid reasons for opting for cash or debit transactions, a complete avoidance of credit cards can serve as a cautionary signal. This is especially noteworthy when this avoidance is accompanied by indications of anxiety or discomfort whenever the topic of credit cards arises.

5. Vacations are a Foreign Concept.

A prominent indicator of financial instability is the absence of vacations. If an individual refrains from taking holidays or embarking on journeys, it may signify financial constraints.

Does he consistently offer excuses whenever the subject of vacations arises? Does he tend to lean towards "staycations"? While it's plausible that he might simply not have a penchant for traveling, an outright refusal or hesitance to plan getaways could imply a shortage of financial resources.

People have diverse travel preferences; some favor local getaways, while others yearn for far-flung adventures. Nevertheless, a complete dearth of travel, particularly if he exhibits interest but regularly withdraws at the last moment, could serve as a telling sign of financial hardship.

6. His Favorite Mantra is “I’ll Pay You Back”.

Does the phrase "I'll reimburse you" sound familiar? You've heard it on so many occasions that it's practically etched into your memory. Unfortunately, the disheartening truth is that he rarely fulfills these assurances.

To begin, there's a distinct line between someone temporarily facing a cash shortage and someone who repeatedly solicits loans. The individual we're discussing here undoubtedly falls into the latter category. 

Whenever you spend time together, he conveniently forgets his wallet, arrives with insufficient cash, or offers some other excuse. The number of times he's pledged to pay you back has reached a point where you've lost count.

One essential aspect to bear in mind is that his borrowing behavior doesn't confine itself solely to you. It's highly likely that he engages in this behavior with other people in his life as well. When he borrows from one person to settle debts with another, that's a telltale sign that he's mired in a financial predicament.

His recurrent borrowing and failure to repay not only reflect financial instability but also convey a great deal about his character. This habit of perpetual borrowing and neglecting to reimburse implies irresponsibility and a lack of regard for both his own financial accountability and the hard-earned money of others.

7. His Job Status is Always ‘In-Between Jobs’.

It appears that he's consistently in a state of job transition. Regardless of how often you've inquired about his employment, his responses invariably revolve around phrases like "I'm actively searching," "I'm freelancing," or "I'm between assignments."

You've known him for a considerable time, and he's yet to secure a stable job. It's almost as if he's grown accustomed to his employment situation and doesn't grasp the importance of securing consistent work.

Let's be clear, freelancing or taking on temporary gigs isn't inherently indicative of financial instability. Many freelancers enjoy substantial earnings. The cause for concern arises when he appears adrift and lacks a clear sense of direction.

Sustained, stable employment extends beyond a mere paycheck; it reflects an individual's ambition, drive, and their overall perspective on life. A perpetual state of joblessness often points towards financial difficulties, a lack of motivation, and a dearth of personal responsibility.

8. He’s Always ‘Broke Until Payday’.

While he may hold down a consistent job, the issue is that he's perpetually living on the edge of financial strain until his next payday. This isn't just an occasional occurrence; it's a recurring pattern that you can discern from his money management.

His spending habits follow a distinct cycle. He indulges in spending shortly after receiving his paycheck, only to find himself financially strapped for the remainder of the month until the next payday arrives.

What's essential to note here is that his spending choices reveal a lack of financial acumen. Rather than judiciously allocating his earnings to last the entire month, he exhausts his funds prematurely, leaving himself in a precarious financial situation for the rest of the month. 

If this doesn't signify a sign of financial instability, it's challenging to identify what would.

9. Luxuries? They’re Alien to Him.

Luxuries, while enjoyable, fall into the category of non-essential items. A man grappling with financial instability often finds himself unable to indulge in luxuries. Designer labels, cutting-edge tech gadgets, and high-end automobiles are concepts that seem foreign to him.

Now, it's not obligatory for everyone to possess such items. Many people opt not to spend on luxuries due to their personal preferences. However, for him, it's not a matter of choice; it's a matter of financial constraints. He might feign disinterest, but deep down, he yearns for the ability to afford these extravagant items.

You've observed him eyeing these possessions, even though he never openly acknowledges it. He possesses knowledge about brands, keeps up with the latest technology, and can spot a luxury car from a considerable distance, but these items always remain beyond his grasp.

10. He Never Talks About the Future.

Be it discussions about career aspirations, investment prospects, or the prospect of owning a home, he consistently avoids engaging in conversations about the future. 

Whenever you've broached the subject, he's skillfully dodged it, primarily because discussing the future is a stark reminder of his ongoing financial difficulties.

Planning and financial stability are essential aspects of envisioning the future, both of which currently pose challenges for him. His reluctance to delve into future-oriented discussions extends beyond merely financial instability; it also underscores a lack of ambition and a sense of direction.

Without a vision for the future, he appears to be adrift in life, and this is not the type of individual you'd want to build a future with.

11. His Best Friend is Mr. Minimum Payment.

Many of us have crossed paths with him, especially during challenging times. Yet, for our subject, Mr. Minimum Payment is more than a mere acquaintance; he's his closest companion.

Whenever credit card bills come knocking, he consistently opts for the minimum payment. Every single time, without exception. He treats his credit card as if it were a high-interest loan, settling for the smallest possible monthly payment.

This entrenched habit of sticking to the minimum payment not only points to subpar financial management but also hints at the potential burden of substantial debt. 

Making only the minimum payment leads to the accumulation of interest charges, resulting in a towering debt that can become exceedingly difficult to extinguish.

What's even more disheartening is that this unrelenting cycle of minimum payments and the ever-mounting interest continues month after month. By relying on Mr. Minimum Payment, he's essentially drowning in debt, all while convincing himself that he's effectively handling his financial affairs.

12. Budgeting? He’d Rather Walk on Hot Coals.

Let's delve into the topic of budgeting, or in his case, the complete absence thereof. He'd prefer to endure arduous trials than sit down and construct a budget.

It's not as though he hasn't made an effort. At your suggestion, he even made an attempt to outline a budget once or twice. Nevertheless, he found it nearly impossible to adhere to. Budgeting, to him, resembles a burdensome chore, one he'd rather steer clear of.

His resistance to budgeting serves as a revealing indicator of his financial instability. Budgeting is an indispensable financial practice that facilitates the monitoring of income and expenditures. However, if he actively avoids it, it serves as a clear indication that he's either apprehensive about facing his financial reality or simply lacks financial responsibility.

This absence of budgeting signifies a state of denial. Without a budget in place, he remains oblivious to how much he earns, what he spends, and where potential overspending occurs. This lack of awareness doesn't equate to contentment; instead, it leads to financial disarray.

13. His Wallet is a Desert.

Remember the classic joke about moths fluttering out of wallets? Well, for him, it's not a joke; it's a stark reality. His wallet frequently remains bereft, not just of money, but devoid of debit or credit cards as well. His wallet resembles a barren wasteland, rarely hosting cash or the gleam of plastic cards.

It's essential to note that the absence of cash or cards in his wallet doesn't necessarily imply he's financially destitute. With the prevalence of digital wallets and online banking, many individuals opt not to carry physical currency. However, in his case, it's a different story altogether.

His wallet is vacant because he lacks the means to fill it. Perhaps he once possessed a debit card, but it faced so many rejections that he eventually ceased carrying it. Alternatively, he may have chosen never to apply for a credit card, recognizing his inability to manage it.

An empty wallet, in conjunction with his aversion to financial discussions, conveys a powerful message about his financial situation. He's financially strapped, and his wallet serves as a somber testament to that reality.

14. He’s a Stranger to Savings.

We've all been educated on the significance of setting money aside for unforeseen circumstances. However, for him, this concept is as unfamiliar as the intricacies of quantum physics. Savings are an alien concept, as he traverses through life without a safety cushion.

When his paycheck arrives, it's a fleeting presence. It vanishes in no time, leaving him to navigate life from one paycheck to the next, devoid of any provisions for unexpected situations or future necessities. His bank account frequently dips into the negative territory, awaiting the next paycheck to revive it.

In the absence of savings, he exists on the precipice of financial catastrophe, constantly just one paycheck away from disaster. If a crisis were to strike or if he were to lose his income source, he'd find himself stranded without any financial protection.

This dearth of savings isn't solely indicative of financial hardship; it signifies a deficiency in long-term foresight, financial planning, and personal responsibility.

 

15. His Bills are Always Late.

Have you observed his perpetual tardiness when it comes to making payments, whether it's for rent, utilities, or credit card bills? His financial obligations often resemble a towering mountain that he grapples with each month. 

Occasionally, he manages to scale its peak, but there are times when he's buried beneath an avalanche of late fees and penalties. Regardless of the outcome, his ongoing battle with bills stands as an unmistakable indicator of financial instability.

In his situation, late payments don't merely result from absentmindedness or disorganization; it's fundamentally a shortfall of funds. He continually finds himself scrambling at the eleventh hour, attempting to piece together enough money to meet his financial obligations.