12 Essential Money Tips for Every Phase of Your Financial Life
12 Essential Money Tips for Every Phase of Your Financial Life
Get the secrets money experts want you to know. By Gabrielle Olya May 17, 2021
Everyone makes money missteps at some point in their lives, whether it's splurging on unnecessary items or neglecting to contribute to retirement funds as soon as possible. Even financial pros are not immune to making mistakes. To help you avoid unnecessary pitfalls, check out these tips and tricks that can help you live your best money life -- no matter your age.
Start With Saving
Although it’s tempting to spend rather than save when you get a paycheck, it’s important to prioritize putting money away into your checking or savings account. On top of that, you should also use the right checking or savings accounts to grow your money.
Avoid Lifestyle Inflation
It's important to increase your savings rate whenever you start earning more in order to keep growing your net worth.
"Save one-third of every pay raise you get so you don't succumb to lifestyle inflation," said Ted Jenkin, a certified financial planner. By starting this practice early in your career, you'll develop good habits like saving, investing and paying down debts instead of spending it on more stuff you won't care about in a few years' time.
Don't Waste Your Money on Things You Don't Need
Whether you've just received your first paycheck or your first raise, it can be tempting to spend your money on things you want rather than on things you need -- but this can be a huge mistake.
"Don't spend so much money on clothing," said Michelle Schroeder-Gardner, founder of the personal finance blog "Making Sense of Cents." "I've worked full-time since I was around the age of 14, yet I didn't really start saving money until nearly a decade later."
Don't Buy Things To Impress Other People
Spending on immediate wants can hurt your future needs, said John Rampton, founder and CEO of Calendar. "Don't waste your time on expensive cars or gadgets," he said. "It's better to save money for the long-term and for things that can keep generating money, rather than taking (your) money."
Start Investing In Your Retirement ASAP
A GOBankingRates' retirement savings survey found that 64% of Americans have less than $10,000 saved for retirement. It's easy to put off saving for retirement when you're in your 20s, but that's the best time to start. The sooner you save, the sooner you can take advantage of compound interest. No matter your age, it's important to prioritize investing in your retirement accounts.
Don't Fear the Stock Market
Doing something that scares you can be a good thing for your finances. Novice investors are often scared of the stock market, but just by getting started, even on a small scale, you're furthering your financial life. Learn some of the safer ways to invest for the long term if you're worried about making mistakes. And the sooner you get started, the better off you'll likely be.
Now, Invest Even More
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https://www.gobankingrates.com/saving-money/savings-advice/money-tips-for-every-phase-of-life/
KTFA
Tuesday Night Video
FRANK26…10-20-26.....YOU PROMISED
This video is in Frank’s and his team’s opinion only
Frank’s team is Walkingstick, Eddie and Omar in Iraq and guests
Playback Number: 605-313-5163 PIN: 156996#
Iraq Orders Banks to Work OVERTIME! Why Now?
The Dinar Den: 10-20-2026
Stephen: Hey everyone, welcome back to the channel. We have some exciting and breaking news that came out of the central bank of Iraq today. So, I'm going to cover and go over those few articles that I think as dinar investors are um just exciting and I think they are very telling as to what the future might possibly hold.
And I'm gonna tie it all together and share how I think these things could possibly be related to a higher dinar exchange rate.
The Iraqi Dinar Is The Second Worst-Performing Arab Currency; Dollar Pressures Pose A Difficult Test For Monetary Policy.
October 20, 2026 The Independent - The classification of the Iraqi dinar among the Arab currencies that have declined the most against the US dollar has raised widespread questions about the future of monetary stability in Iraq, and the ability of the Central Bank to contain the increasing pressures on the exchange market, at a time when the economy is facing challenges related to oil revenues, government spending and the heavy reliance on imports.
The Iran War Will End. Expensive Diesel Won’t
Notes From the Field By James Hickman (Simon Black / sovereign Man) October 20, 2026
There’s a college degree that pays about $100,000 right out of school, which is pretty good money for a 22-year old. Within a few years, that pay could easily double.
Yet hardly any young person wants the job.
It’s not dangerous, it’s not dirty, and it doesn’t require superhuman work hours. The only reason young people aren’t interested is because Greta Thunberg told them it wasn’t cool.
GP Q: US Dollar Upgrade or Collapse?
10-20-2026
“Is the dollar dying… or is it about to get a major upgrade?”
MONEY MONEY MONEY
Most people are only watching the old fiat dollar.
They’re completely missing the new system the U.S. is building right now under the GENIUS Act. Here’s the simple version:
Rob Cunningham: If the World Could Choose Only One Blockchain
10-20-2026
On a go forward basis, “all things considered”, based on the comprehensive utility and liquidity needs of the entire world, “if” only one blockchain was allowed to exist, which should it be?
My choice: the XRP Ledger.
Under this hypothetical – one blockchain serving the world’s combined needs for payments, currencies, tokenized assets, exchange and settlement – XRPL offers the strongest fit in my judgment.
The Central Bank Of Iraq Resolves The Issue Of Merchants' Remittances And Confirms The Continuation Of Import Financing In Dollars.
October 20, 2026Last updated: October 20, 2026 The Central Bank of Iraq confirmed on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, the continuation of financing imports and providing foreign currency through official banking channels, announcing the completion of fulfilling external transfer requests that were suspended before the adjustment of the dinar exchange rate on October 7, in a step aimed at addressing outstanding issues, protecting the rights of traders and ensuring the smooth flow of foreign trade.
Good Afternoon Dinar Recaps,
GLOBAL ASSET RESET WATCH: DEBT, AI UNCERTAINTY AND ENERGY RISKS RESHAPE SAFE-HAVEN DEMAND
Investors are reassessing where to protect their wealth as geopolitical conflict, rising energy prices, government debt and uncertainty surrounding artificial intelligence reshape global markets.
Reset Intelligence: Iraq's Oil Exports Are Back.
By Reset Intelligence | @EXIT_FIAT
Iraq's oil exports are back above 3.4 million barrels a day, close to where they stood before the war.
The same weekend the IMF and Washington both moved toward Baghdad, and the street dollar went the other way.
TNT:
Tishwash: 45 trillion outside the banks... Parliamentary Finance Committee reveals the extent of the crisis of confidence in banks
The head of the parliamentary finance committee, Uday Awad, revealed the existence of a cash mass ranging between 40 and 45 trillion dinars outside the Iraqi banking system, attributing this to the weak confidence of citizens in banks, while stressing the work to find solutions to return these funds to the banking cycle .
Awad said during a televised interview followed by Al-Sa’a Network that “there is a cash mass estimated at about 40 to 45 trillion dinars outside the banking system,” noting that “the lack of confidence in banks has led citizens to keep their money away from them.”
Stern Drew: The BIS Conducted the Most Important Blockchain Experiment of the Year
10-20-2026
The BIS Conducted The Most Important Blockchain Experiment of The Year On a Public Ledger.
The bank for central banks quietly put official data on a public ledger.
Ripple, the crypto firm behind the XRP Ledger blockchain, just became the quiet infrastructure pick for the Bank for International Settlements.
Iraq Absent From Top US Treasury Holders List
2026-10-19 17:56 Shafaq News- Washington Iraq was absent from the list of major foreign holders of US Treasury securities in August 2026, as total foreign holdings rose to $9.3317 trillion from $9.2484 trillion in July, according to US Treasury Department data released on October 16.
Good Morning Dinar Recaps,
GLOBAL DEBT RESET WATCH: U.S. TREASURY FINANCING PLANS FACE GROWING MARKET PRESSURE
Rising borrowing costs, heavy government debt and uncertainty over future bond sales are testing the U.S. Treasury market and raising questions about the cost of financing America's deficits.
GP Q: IMF Discussions on Possible Financing Package for Iraq
10-20-2026
IRAQ
RV etc
MarkZ et al
• No confirmed recipients of asset-backed funds could be found
• Questions (including from James / James K) about whether anyone has received monetary / asset-backed funds
KTFA
Monday Night Video
FRANK26….10-19-26…..THREE ZERO LIFTING FINALIZED
This video is in Frank’s and his team’s opinion only
Frank’s team is Walkingstick, Eddie and Omar in Iraq and guests
Playback Number: 605-313-5163 PIN: 156996#
The Central Bank Told Nina: Removing Zeros Is Not Within Our Authority And Requires A Legal And Legislative Process
Baghdad/ NINA / The Central Bank of Iraq confirmed that the issue of removing zeros from the currency is not within its jurisdiction, but rather requires legislation. The bank's media director, Haider Ghazi, told the Iraqi National News Agency ( NINA 😞 "The issue of removing zeros is not within the bank's authority; it requires legislation, as it is linked to the settlement of debts, legal obligations, and punitive fines under current Iraqi laws.
The FY 2026 Deficit Was $2 Trillion... And No One Cares
Notes From the Field By James Hickman (Simon Black / Sovereign Man) October 19, 2026
On Friday afternoon the Treasury Department released its final numbers for fiscal year 2026, which just ended on September 30, and the results are pretty much what you’d expect: horrible, appalling, inexcusable.
Treasury reported a total budget deficit of $2 trillion, $220 billion worse than the year before.
GP Q: Iraq Just Moved its First International Cargo on an Iraqi Truck
Iraq Just Moved Its First International Cargo on an Iraqi Truck:
Turkey to UAE
Iraq’s customs authority announced that an Iraqi truck has completed its first international transit shipment — carrying goods from Turkey to the United Arab Emirates across Iraqi territory.
Finance Minister Orders Rafidain Bank To Resume Lending
2026-10-19 Shafaq News- Baghdad Iraq’s Finance Minister Falih Al-Sari on Monday instructed state-owned Rafidain Bank to resume lending to public-sector employees, streamline loan applications, and expand financing for private businesses.
Physical Gold vs. Digital Gold: Which Is the Ultimate Safe Haven?
Published: 05-20-2026
Gold is trading at approximately $4,500 per troy ounce as of May 20, 2026 [World Gold Council]. However, the debate about physical gold vs digital gold matters more than most investors realise — because not all of these products are the same thing. Both show up on a brokerage statement with a dollar value attached. But what you actually own — what you hold, what you control, what survives a real crisis — is a very different story. This isn’t a debate about returns. It’s a debate about what “safe haven” actually means.