At the end of advertisements for financial products and services you will find a large chunk of small print with statements such as:
the value of investments can go down as well as up, representative Apr. of xxx% or your home is at risk if you do not keep up payments secured on it.
The problem with small print is
a. it’s rather small,
b. overly complicated and
c. most of us don’t read it!
The Dutch financial authorities have taken a different approach with the strapline, “Borrowing Money Costs Money” – don’t you just love the simplicity?
It’s along the lines of the straight to the point health warning “Smoking Kills” or “Don’t Drive Drunk”.
Considering that stress is a major cause of death and disease and money worries are a major cause of stress maybe the time is right for a health warning on loans and credit – “Borrowing Money Costs Money”
