What are the Most Common Financial Mistakes People Make?

1. 75

   Shil1978posted 13 years ago

   What are the Most Common Financial Mistakes People Make?

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2. 91

   JSParkerposted 13 years ago

   Not saving for retirement!  If people would just sock away 5 or 10% of their take- home pay before spending on anything else, they would never feel the loss and they would be set for retirement.  Instead, most people spend everything they get.

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3. 69

   SD Dickensposted 13 years ago

   When someone continually spends all of the money they make (or more), they're making a big financial mistake.  No matter how much a person earns, he/she should try to live below their means in order to save money and build wealth.

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4. 59

   tcummutaposted 13 years ago

   The biggest mistake I see boomers make is unrealistic retirement assumptions. Whether it is how much they will need at retirement or how much they think they will have, or both, most boomers are in for a serious wake-up call when retirement comes.
   
   The other overall other mistake I see most people i encounter is carrying too much debt. Most people, including financial professionals, think carrying a certain level of debt is the American way. The reality is that debt steals from your future to pay for the now.

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5. 61

   cheaptoysposted 13 years ago

   thinking that it is the amount of money that is being made that matters when what is more important is the amount of money being saved

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6. 37

   ZIa Ahmed khanposted 13 years ago

   The most common mistake is putting all money in one basket. The portfolio is really concentrated in just few options. This needs to diversified enough so that shocks can be absorbed. The second mistake is everybody wants to be rich very quick but such products are gimmicks and nothing more.
   Every body must hold real physical assets, i.e. real estate, precious metals and other things.
   The Other side of mistake is borrowing, borrowing more than the repayment capacity or spending more than present income stream expecting future wind falls. In financial market there is only today, and one must learn to live in the means what he has today.
   Living safe and within the available means is best. When one has more he can always thinks of more but please don't spend today based on future expected income.

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7. 60

   Unlicensed Guideposted 13 years ago

   Thinking that they can't learn the basics of money management.  Money management, investing, trading and saving for retirement can be very deep topics, yes .... but the basic skills and disciplines needed to take control of one's financial future are within reach of anyone that is willing to put in a little time to learn.
   
   The best part about this is that once there is a commitment to learn, it has a broad impact across many different financial topics and disciplines

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8. 85

   dburkeazposted 13 years ago

   Budgeting your money.  If you don't tell your money what to do you will always wonder what happend to it when it's gone.

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9. 61

   MobyWhoposted 13 years ago

   Not living within your means: inflation is a fact, so keeping within current bounds gives you an edge up when you start avoiding certain aisles in the grocery store, like meat, fish, cheese because of the prices. Don't count on "future bounty": that aunt you thought would leave you a bundle might just run off with a scoundrel. And - save more for retirement than you think you'll need (inflation). Consider Long Term Care Insurance - but read the fine print! I know!

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10. 61

    Csjun89posted 13 years ago

    One of the biggest mistake I have seen is that people are misled to think that the stock market is the only form of investment.
    
    There are really an entire array of options out there, like investing in the social enterprises in your community that are also much more meaningful or trying out mini leasing projects like gumball machines or small vending machines. Purchasing a house to rent out would be one such possibility.
    
    In the stock market, the diversification that brokers sell merely spreads your hard earned money out over the stock market. Instead real diversification is about spreading across asset classes, from commodities to money metals to real estate or other real assets, should you choose to do so.

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11. 79

    Express10posted 13 years ago

    Not educating themselves on investments, having clear financial goals, and not saving enough for retirement and emergency funds.

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12. 59

    ikechiawazieposted 13 years ago

    I believe the most common financial mistake people make is not getting a financial education at all.

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13. 59

    castoriehandley93posted 11 years ago

    Most probably delaying the things they have to buy. For example, delaying a life or health insurance is as bad as delaying a car or long-term care insurance. As quoted from this site (http://www.acsia.com/4-mistakes-to-avoi … urance.php), "Procrastinating is probably the worst mistake that anyone can make when it comes to buying long term care insurance. Remember that your insurability and premiums are highly dependent on your age and health. When you wait until you’re older before you buy, you’ll either need to pay for a higher price tag or worse, get turned down. Furthermore, insurers usually give discounts to healthy applicants. If you choose to buy at a later age, you could miss out on the savings."

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