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Reading FrugalDad’s post this morning over coffee and breakfast I started thinking about all the mistakes we’ve made in the past. I used to dwell on those mistakes and it would cause an inertia that made it seem like no matter what small progress we made it wasn’t enough. This would lead to feelings of despair, which would cause me to stick my head in the sand again. (you know that’s not good!)
By following other personal finance bloggers, and reading books like I Will Teach You To Be Rich
Looking back at our mistakes almost makes me laugh now. My new perspective had me rehashing a few things we’ve done, and I realized that they all fall into 5 categories.
- Making a budget with no room for “stupid mistakes”.
- Spending before you have the money.
- Turning down FREE money.
- Not educating yourself about the home buying/car buying process.
- Not allowing yourself to have any fun.
Whenever we tried to clean up our debt in the past we had a very strict budget, and inevitably ended up feeling deprived and spending more than we should have. Which leads to a vicious cycle of buckling down, feeling deprived, spending, and then paying it back by buckling down, etc. For me this also includes the inevitable unexpected bill/expense that we couldn’t handle without an emergency fund in place.
We get around this now by paying the kids an allowance, and allowing ourselves small treats. We also planned an evening out that is coming up this month (to see Flight of The Conchords in concert) and that allows us to look forward to something fun. I also pad our grocery budget slightly so we’ll be less tempted to eat out.
For most people this one will elicit a big, “Duh!,” but how many times have we talked about not buying on credit only to say, “but I really NEED this right now.” (said like a greedy 10 year old in a toy store) Don’t fall for your own double talk! I’m not saying cut up your credit cards, just use them wisely! Make sure you create barriers to purchasing things. Use a 24 hour rule, leave your cards at home, or think about where that money would go otherwise.
Ignoring your 401k is the most obvious example. We spent 2 years saying we would pay off debt first then start contributing before I wised up and did the math. The money we’d put in for the match wouldn’t make a big enough dent that it would matter.
Also by not taking the time to assess your expenses you are often throwing way more $ out the window than you think. (see my post on how I saved $17K)
This is the largest purchase most people make, yet time and again you hear stories of how people are taken advantage of. People that sell cars and homes have a huge advantage over you. They do it every day, while you may buy a few homes in your lifetime and a car every 10-15 years. You need to invest your time as these are 2 of the largest purchases you can make and they will affect your financial goals the most over the course of your lifetime.
I’m a big proponent of finding balance in your life. It is something having kids taught me early on. Make sure you make time for your spouse or partner, family or kids, and friends. Without people to share your successes with all the money in the world means nothing!
What was the biggest mistake you made with your finances?
My biggest mistake would likely be having a family so young, but that’s not something I can or would change!
Kelly
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