Avoid these Money Mistakes
It doesn’t take an advanced finance degree or fancy high-rise office to understand how to manage your money. In fact, anyone can be financially savvy if they take the time to understand their own spending habits and needs. If you struggle with managing your finances, you shouldn’t get discouraged. Instead, read these common money mistakes people often make to help you avoid making similar errors in the future.
Neglecting Retirement
Many people have come to rely solely on Social Security to support them in retirement. However, what they don’t know is that Social Security only accounts for a small portion of your monthly income. Depending on what you made throughout your career, you may only be looking at 40% of your income being covered by Social Security. That likely won’t help you cover all your living expenses. Don’t use social systems such as Social Security as your retirement plan. You should put money away into a retirement account as soon as you can so you have enough money built up to sustain you in retirement. If you don’t, you could find yourself in financial trouble or unable to retire at all.
Overspending
Credit cards can be a hand tool. If you’re out of the country and have an emergency, for example, having a credit card available that works around the world can give you peace of mind and allow you to handle your emergency stress-free. However, if you’re using your card on shopping sprees and fancy luxuries, you may find yourself in more debt than you expected. Credit cards should be used sparingly and paid off as soon as possible to avoid interest charges.
Avoiding Savings
At some point in your life, you’ll likely run into an expensive emergency that needs taken care of right away. Perhaps you just bought a new home and the furnace breaks and needs replaced in the middle of winter, or you end up needing an emergency surgery that will leave you out of work for weeks without pay. If you don’t have money set aside to cover these types of emergencies, you may find yourself in hot water with your finances. Don’t let yourself be vulnerable to financial emergencies and set aside money from each paycheck to help you should something unexpected happen.
Being Uninsured
Insurance is a valuable tool, especially when used properly. If you have loved ones counting on you to support them, having insurance can provide peace of mind knowing they’ll be cared for if something comes up. Whether it’s fire, flood, a medical emergency, or even an unexpected death, having extra coverage in place to ensure they’re cared for can be priceless. Many people don’t purchase life insurance because they feel it’s too expensive, however, you can find excellent coverage for only a couple dollars a day that will give you and your loved ones the protection they need.
Keep up with the Joneses
If you’ve heard the expression about keeping up with the Joneses, then you understand that it can be a very expensive lifestyle to maintain. If you aren’t careful, your desire to keep up with the latest trends and fashions could land you in financial trouble. Instead, understand the values of investing in quality items that will retain their value and last years. You may even want to shift your line of thinking and place value on experiences over things. If you ask most people what they regret later in life, you won’t find it’s missing out on the latest gadget, but rather enjoying experiences with loved ones.
When you know what money mistakes to avoid, you can get on the right track towards being financially independent. The more you understand yours and your family’s needs, the better positioned you’ll be to make sound financial decisions that will benefit you and your loved ones.
