Is your financial future in the stars?

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Many astrologers believe the financial downturn was written in the stars - and they're not alone. Research by the online credit monitoring service CreditExpert shows that nearly one in eight of us consult the stars before parting with our money.

And a survey by the UK payments association, APACS, finds clear links between your star sign and your payment habits.

"e;We'd all be better off if we checked our credit reports as regularly as our horoscopes," says Jim Hodgkins, managing director of CreditExpert.

Here's what your star sign says about your attitude to money and potential success with it; see if you're a financial star, or a black hole.

Aries - not good at detail

Arians tend to live for the day and forget about the consequences - they can easily max out their credit cards. Almost a quarter of them don't check monthly bank and card statements thoroughly, missing suspicious transactions that could be a sign of ID fraud.

Taurus - can't be bothered

Taureans are conservative with money, tending to stick with the same deals, even if they aren't the best. Unfortunately they can't be bothered to shred important documents before binning them, which could be a gift to ID thieves, who are especially pleased to get their hands on bank and card statements - and take over the accounts.

Gemini - disorganised livewires

Geminis are the wheeler-dealers of the zodiac, tending to chop and change in search of the best deal. They can fire off half a dozen applications at once, without realising that these will leave a record on their credit reports - and too many applications can worry lenders, who can fear that they are desperate for money or even suspect a fraud.

Cancer - safety first

Cancerians are hoarders and get crabby when they have to part with money. They check statements religiously and most pay their monthly card bill in full. Their problem is splurging on the material possessions that mean security to a Cancer - which can leave a dent in their credit status.

Leo - good intentions

Leos are good at making money but careless about how they spend it and can easily rack up debts. They often use the same PIN number for everything, however, which makes them vulnerable to ID fraud.

Virgo - meticulous managers

Virgos should survive the credit crunch better than most. They spend hours calculating expenses and will switch from one card or loan to another only after lengthy enquiries. They don't like to destroy financial documents and are reassured by keeping tabs on their credit status.

Libra - too trusting

Librans find an attractive-sounding deal hard to resist and may skip over the small print, so they can end up tied in to a loan or paying high interest. They are the least likely star sign to check statements, so they can end up in debt or as victims of ID fraud without even realising it.

Scorpio - determined and persistent

Scorpions won't take no for an answer, scan the market for the best offers and persist until they find what they want. Once they've secured a loan, mortgage or card, they make repayments on time and in full - behaviour that shows they're responsible borrowers and likely to be a good bet for lenders.

Sagittarius - absent minded

Sagittarians are clever enough to handle money well but it isn't always top of their priorities - it's not surprising that they pay more attention to bills and statements that come through the post than if they have to go online to find them.