A Suze Orman exclusive

Financial traits: Pretends to have very deep pockets; spends, spends, spends, without the money to actually cover the bills.

Advice: Hop to it with a sounder financial plan.

Kangaroos are out for a good time. You guys are not just the life of the party, but frequently take on the role of financier as well-regardless of your own financial condition. You're the kind to buy everyone a drink even when you can hardly meet the minimum monthly payment on your credit card bill. You live for now, rather than ever taking a little time to plan and save for the future. "No" just isn't in your vocabulary. You buy whatever you want, whenever you want, and think that taking on more and more debt is not only your right, but practically an American civic duty.

Oh Kangaroo, you are hopping along the road to ruin, sure to be buried by an avalanche of debt if you don't stop in your tracks right now. If you're young, I know it can feel like there is no downside to all your spending, but you and I both know that ain't the truth. If you are running up huge credit card bills, you are putting yourself in a financial straightjacket that is going to make you miserable the rest of your life. Not only will you have those big balances to pay off, but because of your profligate spending you could end up forever getting stuck with higher interest rates when you apply for a loan to buy a home or car.

And you older 'roos who own a house are heading for the same fate if you are tapping equity in your home to finance ridiculous indulgences such as sports cars, blowout vacations, and hot tubs on the back deck.

Get your hands out of your pockets right now. The spending has got to slow down, so you can start getting rid of your existing debt and boosting your savings. Notice I didn't say you need to stop the spending cold turkey; just scale it back. It's all about moderation.

And that's true of every healthy financial personality: true prosperity depends on finding that balance between exercising your strengths and controlling your weaknesses. What's really difficult is that our worst weaknesses can often simply be our strengths taken to extremes. Knowing your personality is key to recognizing in your life (financially and otherwise!) those small shifts in outlook and action that frequently spell the difference between success and failure, security and danger, happiness and hardship. Being honest about who you are is the necessary first step to improving who you are. If you can commit to financial self-awareness, whatever your sign, I predict 2005 will be your most prosperous year ever.