Potential Credit Problems for Harry Potter's Friend Ron Weasley

In the world of "Harry Potter," there are few figures with as many money challenges as the Weasley family. The family is large and poor, and this often affects how the youngest Weasley boy, Ron, sees the world. Nearly everything of Ron's is a hand-me-down, and he resents it. He wishes he could have something new and asks, "Why is everything I own rubbish?" ("Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire").

While he is too proud to borrow money from his wealthier friend, Harry Potter, Ron is certainly at risk for credit problems later. The one time he did get money from Harry, he tried to pay it back with leprechaun gold. When that disappeared he became embarrassed because he didn't have the means to pay Harry back the 10 galleons he owed him.

Ron associates with a peer group that has more money than he does. (His other best friend, Hermione Granger, has savings and two working parents who are dentists.) Even his older brothers are making a great deal of money with their business venture. Everywhere he looks, the temptation for more material possessions is present.

Another of Ron's problems is that he does not save his money. Unlike Hermione, who sets some money aside in a building society account, Ron spends all his pocket money on merchandise from Zonko's and on treats from Honeydukes. He is not preparing for the future, and as a result rarely has more that two sickles to rub together. It would help if he set aside a few Knuts a month to start a savings plan.

Unfortunately, Ron's mediocrity means that he is unlikely to get a high-paying job in the future. And because he does not save, it is possible that he will live paycheck to paycheck. That is unless, of course, he marries Hermione and they have a two-income household. But even that will not help, unless Hermione can teach him to budget and to save.