The 50 Biggest Money Mistakes Household CEOs Make

The 50 Biggest Money Mistakes Household CEOs Make

By Len Penzo

I’m not ashamed to admit I make mistakes. After all, everybody screws up occasionally; for us humans, mistakes come with the territory.

For example, I remember the time I decided it would be great fun to play Wii golf for eight consecutive hours. Unfortunately for me, my middle-aged left shoulder vehemently disagreed — after the fact, of course — and so I spent the next week popping acetaminophen tablets like they were M&Ms. I know.

It can be even more costly when we make mistakes managing our personal finances; I know I still make them from time to time.

As this penny illustrates, even the United States Mint occasionally makes money mistakes.

Here are 50 of the biggest financial faux pas household CEOs make. How many of these apply to you?

1. Being impatient. People of modest means should understand two important facts: 1) we cant have it all at once; and 2) saving money takes time — sometimes lots of it.

2. Failing to read contracts before signing on the dotted line.

3. Using payday loans to cover temporary financial shortfalls.

4. Giving your kids everything they desire. It’s hard to get a feel for the value of a dollar when you grow up never wanting for anything.

5. Signing your tax returns without reviewing them — even when they’re done by a tax professional.

6. Buying a new car and selling it after only a few years. Buying new cars is costly because they can lose upwards of half their value by the time they are three years old.

7. Not doing your research before purchasing extended warranties.

8. Going into debt to purchase things that will decrease in value.

9. Maintaining memberships with monthly payments even though you no longer take advantage of them.

10. Using credit card convenience checks that fill your mailbox. You can reduce the temptation by stopping those dubious credit card offers and other annoying junk mail.

11. Failing to track your income and expenses.12. Not saving part of your income for retirement. Try saving at least 10 percent from every paycheck; it’s never too late to start.

13. Keeping cash in a low-interest earning savings account despite carrying a high-interest credit card balance. Use any savings over and above that needed for emergencies — and riding out a potential job loss — to pay off credit card debt.

14. Loaning money to friends and relatives.

15. Taking a loan from your 401(k) retirement fund to pay for current expenses.

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