Rebecca is a young journalist living in London who works for *Successful Saving* magazine despite lacking financial expertise. She suffers from a severe shopping compulsion, using purchases from high-end stores like Denny and George to manage her anxiety and project an image of success. She constantly avoids her mounting debts by ignoring phone calls, throwing away bank letters, and inventing elaborate lies to protect herself from embarrassment.

Luke is the wealthy, highly competent head of Brandon Communications. He moves comfortably within elite financial circles and appears on a magazine list of Britain's richest bachelors. His genuine industry expertise and confident demeanor create an intimidating contrast to Rebecca's financial instability and professional faking.

Suze is Rebecca's loyal flatmate and closest friend. She lives a carefree life subsidized by her wealthy parents, allowing her to pursue hobbies like making picture frames without financial pressure. She acts as a buffer against Rebecca's problems, offering her a rent-free room and unquestioning emotional support.

Martin lives next door to the Bloomwood family. He completely believes Rebecca's professional facade, trusting her as a high-powered financial expert. He brings her a letter from Flagstaff Life to ask for her investment advice, unaware of her actual incompetence in the field.

Janice is Martin's wife and lives next door to Rebecca's parents. She holds a high opinion of Rebecca's career and eagerly trusts her guidance regarding their personal savings and investments.

Derek is a bank manager at Endwich Bank responsible for handling Rebecca's spiraling debt. He persistently attempts to contact her through formal letters and phone calls to schedule a meeting, acting as the primary representative of the consequences she tries to avoid.

Elly is a fellow financial journalist and friend of Rebecca. She decides to leave journalism for a more lucrative and stable position as a fund manager at Wetherby's Investments, a pragmatic career move that forces Rebecca to question her own lack of professional progress.

Tarquin is Suze's cousin, an awkward man from Scotland ranked 15th on a list of Britain's richest bachelors. He develops a crush on Rebecca, taking her on a surprisingly modest pizza date that frustrates her expectations of experiencing high-end luxury.

Phillip is Rebecca's boss at *Successful Saving* magazine. He expects professional competence from his staff, regularly assigning Rebecca to cover financial events and checking on her whereabouts during work hours.

Eric is a journalist for the *Daily World* tabloid. He works on a series investigating financial institutions and offers Rebecca an opportunity to collaborate on an exposé regarding corporate practices.

Alicia works at Brandon Communications alongside Luke. She handles public relations for corporate clients and frequently dismisses Rebecca's inquiries, paying more attention to her lunch orders than to journalistic questions.

Rebecca's mother enjoys buying new kitchen appliances and shopping at craft fairs, habits that mirror her daughter's larger spending issues on a smaller scale. She provides a comfortable, insulated home environment where Rebecca retreats to escape her adult responsibilities.

Rebecca's father is a practical man who wishes his daughter would purchase her own flat rather than renting. He passes along neighborhood gossip and financial news, inadvertently sparking Rebecca's investigation into the company handling their neighbors' investments.

Zelda is a television producer for a daytime show targeting young mothers. She operates in a chaotic, fast-paced environment, quickly ushering guests through makeup and orchestrating on-air debates to boost ratings.

Tom is the son of Martin and Janice Webster and a childhood friend of Rebecca. He recently purchased a home and enjoys shopping trips to Tiffany's with his partner, serving as another reminder to Rebecca of the traditional adult milestones she feels she is failing to reach.

Lucy is Tom Webster's girlfriend. She inadvertently exposes Rebecca's lie about working retail when they run into each other on the street, having recognized her from the boutique.

Fenella is Tarquin's sister and Suze's cousin. She mingles easily at family gatherings and shares her family's comfortable social standing, leaving Rebecca to navigate awkward conversation with Tarquin.

Sacha is Luke Brandon's girlfriend, the daughter of a French billionaire. Her existence comes as a severe disappointment to Rebecca, who completely misinterprets a shopping trip with Luke as a romantic date.

Clare works at the financial magazine with Rebecca. Her ability to secure freelance work inspires Rebecca to look for alternative ways to increase her own income.

Erica is an employee at Endwich Bank who works alongside Derek Smeath to track down Rebecca regarding her overdue account.

Luke's father is a wealthy man who incorrectly assumes Rebecca is a highly knowledgeable financial journalist, questioning her about complex economic announcements that she does not understand.

Luke's mother is a polite, wealthy woman who inadvertently causes Rebecca to panic by complimenting her scarf during a brief encounter at a restaurant.