These 4 Money Mistakes Can Ruin Your Life

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The consequences of poor money management can be long-lasting. For example, a survey conducted by the Federal Reserve determined that 36% of Americans would not be able to cover a $400 emergency expense without either borrowing or selling something.

The unpreparedness of so many people shows just how common financial missteps such as not saving, building up high-interest debt and not budgeting, can lead to stress and economic insecurity. 

Below, you will learn the four most common money mistakes that will ruin your life forever and, most importantly, how to avoid or fix them.

1. Not Making Retirement Savings a Priority

Out of all the worst financial mistakes you can make, not prioritizing retirement savings early takes precedence over others. When you are young, retirement seems so far away. It’s hard to look that far ahead when immediate expenses and improvements to lifestyles call so loudly and consistently for your money, but when it comes to building up your retirement, time stands as your greatest friend.

When looking at the magic of compound interest, even a modest sum saved consistently in your 20s can balloon into a fat nest egg by retirement age. For example, stocking away $200 monthly at an average annual return of 7% from age 25 to 65 could be over $600,000. Waiting until age 40 for the same result could require three times those monthly contributions.

Not saving for retirement can lead to many stressors during what is supposed to be your golden years. Without a dependable source of income, you may have to either live on meager Social Security benefits, work while you are in your old age or slash your lifestyle dramatically.

The solution to this is to start saving for retirement as early as possible. You can join the 401(k) or employer-sponsored retirement plan and contribute enough to get the full employer match. If an employer does not offer a plan, you can open an IRA. Try to save at least 5% of your income towards your retirement, or ideally 20% by following the 50/30/20 rule, which puts 50% to needs, 30% to wants and 20% to savings.

2. Racking Up High-Interest Debt

High-interest debt, especially credit card debt, can quickly snowball and get out of hand. Before you even realize it, it can knock your finances off balance. Individuals often realize the long-term effects of carrying balances on high-interest accounts. Credit cards can have interest rates over 20%, making balances, even the moderate ones, hard to pay off.

For instance, if you owe $10,000 on credit with a 20% interest rate, paying the minimum every month –$200 — may take more than 30 years to pay off the credit and more than $40,000 in interest alone. A debt cycle like this will tie your hands from saving and investing to eventually living a life full of financial problems.

High-interest debt will also ruin your credit score, making the cost of borrowing higher when you need it most for a house or a car. Worst of all, unmanageable financial stress may affect your mental and physical health.

The solution is to break this vicious circle by prioritizing paying down high-interest balances using the debt avalanche method, which focuses on paying off the debts carrying the highest interest rates first while making minimum payments on others. You could also consider the debt snowball method, which provides the ability to tackle smaller balances first. Avoid accumulating new debt by living within your means and using credit cards responsibly. Just charge what you can pay off in full each month.

3. Not Creating and Following a Budget

Budgeting may not be very exciting, but it is integral to your financial health. Without a clear view of where your money goes, it is easy to overspend and fall behind on your financial goals. 

Most people avoid budgets because they believe a budget will keep them from enjoying their money, or simply take too much time. However, a budget is only a plan to ensure your money works for you and not against you.

However, not budgeting keeps you always living from paycheck to paycheck, irrespective of income level. Hidden expenses such as a car repair or a medical bill can wreak havoc on finances if no money is kept apart against your financial cushioning. Over time, not having that sense of control makes it challenging to save for big goals such as buying a house, starting a business or taking that dream vacation.

You can get on top of it by creating a budget aligning with your priorities and values. The first step is tracking your spending for one month to know the spending patterns. Then, categorize your expenses into needs (rent/mortgage and groceries) and wants (entertainment and dining out). 

A simple rule guideline is the 50/30/20 rule. This means you should allocate 50 percent of your income to your needs, 30 percent to wants and 20 percent to savings and debt repayment. Revisit your budget regularly enough to ensure it reflects your financial situation. 

4. Overlooking the Importance of an Emergency Fund

Life is unpredictable. If you aren’t prepared, a job loss, medical emergency or urgent fix in your home can throw your finances out of balance. 

Unfortunately, many people either ignore the significance of having an emergency fund or think they can always rely on credit cards or take out loans. This will also be expensive due to high interest rates and further stress during those times.

An emergency fund gives a buffer that could bring calmness into your financial life and avert any damage to your long-term plans. Otherwise, the absence of a minor setback may be covered by taking money from your retirement savings, selling some assets or getting into debt.

Overcome this by targeting to save three to six months’ worth of living expenses in an easily accessible account, such as a high-yield savings account. If necessary, start small and set aside a portion of each paycheck until you reach your goal. 

To speed up your savings, reduce unnecessary spending temporarily, or remove items you no longer use. Think of your emergency fund as something not to be casual with, but that you can only access in the case of genuine need and return the funds immediately.

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