UK consumers are more concerned about keeping up appearances that reducing personal debt according to research from CreditExpert.
In a survey from the group, 34% of people asked admitted that they have spent beyond their means in order to keep up with their peers at some point.
One fifth of men were likely to buy a car as a status symbol, even if it meant getting into serious debt. Conversely, it was women who admitted that they felt more self-conscious around people who are better off.
Managing director at CreditExpert, Jim Hodgkins commented, "Using credit to fund a lifestyle you can't really afford can lead to huge financial problems and if you don't keep tight control of your spending and how much you're borrowing, you can easily find you can't afford the payments."