There are probably hundreds of things you shouldn't do with your money. But from bad habits to decisions based on wishful thinking, some of the bigger missteps can really cost you.
To find out the biggest money mistakes you should avoid, GOBankingRates asked financial experts for their best advice.
Keep reading to see the top things you should never do with your money.
Never Cash Your Paycheck Right Away
If you cash your paycheck right away, you might burn through it too quickly.
"You will most certainly spend it all if you cash your paycheck rather than have your employer directly deposit it into your bank account," said Barbara Friedberg, a financial expert. "Even better is to automatically transfer a percent of your paycheck into a retirementinvestment account and direct-deposit the remainder into a bank account."
One advantage of having a workplace retirement plan, such as a 401k, is that money is automatically deducted from your pay and invested. You don't see it, so you won't spend it. You can use a budgeting template to get the most mileage out of your paycheck.
Never Fall for ‘Special’ Finance Deals You Can’t Afford
Promotional finance offers that provide zero or low interest rates on a big purchase might sound like a great deal — until you wind up paying more than you expected. That's what happened to Grayson Bell of personal finance website Debt Roundup.
"Don't finance a new vehicle, or watercraft in my case, based on the low promotional monthly payment," he said. "I financed a new $10,000 Jet Ski with no money down and no real way to pay for it based on a radio ad promoting a super low $69 per month payment. What I didn't read was the rate was only for two years, then it changes to include retroactive interest based on the loan amount."
"Those financing deals can ruin you if you're only looking at the monthly payment," he continued. "Go through the math and read all of the fine print. They get you in with the low monthly payments, but keep you paying for much longer than you anticipated."
Never Co-Sign a Loan You Can’t Afford
Michelle Schroeder-Gardner of personal finance blog Making Sense of Cents said you should never co-sign on a loan for someone unless you have the means to pay it back fully.
"The fact is that you never know if the person will be able to pay every single payment, so it's best to prepare yourself," she said.
Never Live Above Your Means
One of the tenets of building wealth is to live below your means. Saving and investing should be your priorities so you can help pay for your children's college costs and live comparably in retirement, said Cathy Curtis, a fee-only financial advisor.
Never Rely Only on Cash When Traveling
Sure, carrying and using cash is a good alternative to running up credit card bills. But Curtis suggested using traveler's checks or credit cards as an alternative to cash.
Holding substantial cash when you're traveling can invite unfortunate situations. You could lose it or be a victim of theft, which is not uncommon in certain tourist areas.
Never Donate Money Over the Phone
Phone solicitations often involve raising money for legitimate organizations. Unfortunately, they're also an easy way for con artists to scam well-meaning donors.
Never give out your credit card number over the phone in that situation, said Curtis. Instead, ask the solicitor to mail you the information. This way, you can research the organization if you're unfamiliar with it and make sure it's legitimate.
Never Shop When You’re Emotional
It's best to avoid shopping when you're feeling down because you might be tempted to spend more in order to feel better.
Another situation to avoid is pushy salespeople; don't let them flatter you into buying something you can't afford. You might need some positive reinforcement, but getting it from a clerk whose interest is in making a sale might cost you.
There are other ways to feel good about yourself without shelling out cash. Make decisions based on your need and your budget, Curtis said.
Never Opt Out of Your 401k
Opting out of your 401k plan is one of the worst money moves you could make, said Esther Kim of ForUsAll, a low-cost 401k plan provider for small businesses.
Many companies use automatic enrollment as a default for employees who don't elect to participate in the 401k plan. Make sure you choose to enroll in the plan and increase the amount you contribute above the auto-enrollment amount. Then, sign up for your plan's automatic escalation feature, which will increase your contribution percentage by an amount you specify each year.
Never Hire a Financial Advisor You Can’t Trust
Choosing a financial advisor can be the most important decision you make. It can also mean the difference between building wealth for retirement or becoming a victim of fraud or paying excessive fees.
"Never invest your money with someone you don't trust, even if you can't pinpoint the source of the mistrust," said Julie Rains of personal finance blog Investing to Thrive.
To choose the right financial planner, get recommendations for advisors from relatives and friends you trust. Research their designations and background at the Securities and Exchange Commission website or on the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority site.
Never Put All Your Money in Illiquid Investments
Many investment products lock up your money, which limits your access to it, said Daniel Zajac, a certified financial planner at Simone Zajac Wealth Management Group.
"You should be keenly aware of when and how you can get to your money, even more so if you make the decision to put a large portion of your assets in something that restricts access," he said.
Individual stocks, mutual funds and exchange-traded funds have a high degree of liquidity. By contrast, illiquid investments are those that cannot be sold quickly without incurring a significant loss in value. Examples include non-traded real estate investment trusts, some collectibles and more.
Never Buy Too Much Company Stock
Owning company stock can be a valuable addition to your portfolio, said Zajac, but don't put too much of your money in that investment. If your company experiences a downturn, you could lose your investment and your job in one fell swoop. A good rule of thumb is to limit your company stock exposure to 10 percent of your total net worth, he said.
Never Make Insurance Your Only Investment
Cash-value life insurance is often pitched as a retirement savings vehicle to high-earning business owners and professionals. While this might be a viable solution in some cases, it is generally a better idea for these folks to take advantage of more traditional retirement vehicles such as a 401k, Zajac said.
"Insurance as an investment is rarely, if ever, a good idea," said Zajac. "It's an especially bad idea for those just getting started. Your focus should be on creating an emergency fund, creating liquidity and contributing to your retirement. Focus on buying term and investing the difference."
Never Be Unintentional With Your Money
It's important to pay close attention to your money and your budget, said financial coach Melissa Thomas. "Savings accounts need to be labeled for their intended purpose," she said.
For example, you might have a separate account for your emergency fund and another to save for the holidays. Accounts earmarked for long-term goals like retirement or college should be kept separate and never be mingled with the shorter-term goals.
Never Buy a House Without Looking at the Full Cost
Homeownership isn't just about the mortgage payment. In fact, there are many costs to owning a home that might not be apparent before you buy.
"People tend to only look at the payment amount and not consider the other costs that come with homeownership, such as needed repairs and ongoing maintenance, differing utility bills than their previous place and possible tax increases," said Josh Elledge of personal finance website SavingsAngel.
"Make sure that you factor in those costs above the monthly mortgage payments," he continued. "Otherwise, one especially hot summer or a minor accident backing out of the garage, and you're piling up additional debt on a credit card to get by."
Never Sign a Contract You Don’t Understand
It's a good idea to have an attorney review any contract you're considering. And the excuse of wanting your lawyer to review the agreement is always a good way to escape a high-pressure pitch to sign something.
"You can commit yourself financially for a very long time, and at a very high cost, by signing a contract you don't understand," said Elledge. "If you don't understand what you're committing to, don't sign."
Never Loan Money to Friends and Family You Can’t Trust
Think long and hard before you give your money away to a friend or family member. Otherwise, in the event that you don't get your money back, your relationship with them might suffer.
"It is hard to say 'no' to friends and family who ask to 'borrow' money, but there is very little upside to doing this," said Kirk Chisholm, a wealth manager with Innovative Advisory Group. "Sure, you might get your money back, but do you really want to pester them to get it? The bigger question is, what if they don't pay you back? Are you OK with saying goodbye to that money?"
Never Spend Money on Things You Don’t Really Use
You might be tempted to buy certain items that promise to save you money or make some tasks easier. But if you end up not using those items, it's just wasted money.
"It's mind-boggling the amount of money people waste on things they neither need nor use," said Elledge. "Whether it's buying a fancy phone they have no idea how to use, buying an extended warranty on a product that already comes with a warranty, or even purchasing groceries they forgot are sitting in the cupboard at home, it's wasteful spending."
Instead, Elledge suggested sticking to buying items you actually need and use on a daily basis, and "you may find a lot more money in your monthly budget."
Never Invest Money You Can’t Afford to Lose
Most smart wealth-building strategies include investing as a way to grow your money, but it's a risk you need to be able to afford. Be sure to seek out expert advice if you're new to investing.
"Every investment carries a level of risk, and you should be prepared to face the worst-case scenario every time," said Pauline Paquin, personal finance expert and founder of the website Reach Financial Independence. "Do not invest money that would compromise your financial well being if you lost it ... One financial mistake can be devastating."
Never Buy an Investment That Sounds Too Good to Be True
If an investment seems like it's too good to be true, beware, said Joseph Carbone, a certified financial planner with Focus Planning Group. "If it sounds boring, then it's probably a good investment."
Often, those too-good-to-be-true investments are expensive and illiquid, he said. Staple investments — such as stocks, bonds and certificates of deposit — might be better performers.
Never Get Carried Away on Deals Websites
Just like with a brick-and-mortar discount store, the prices on deal websites can be addicting. But you might spend more than you can afford and end up with have a bunch of stuff you really don't need.
"Deal websites like Groupon can be a great way to save money, as long as you don't become addicted," said Sean Cooper, financial expert and author of "Burn Your Mortgage: A Simple, Powerful Path to Financial Freedom." "Similar to coupons, deal websites can lead to overspending on stuff you may not need ... To avoid the temptation to spend, only visit deal websites for stuff you're already planning to buy."
Never Buy a New Car — If You Can Help It
That new-car smell might be intoxicating, but it's fleeting and comes with a high price tag.
"Don't ever, ever, ever buy a brand new car; buy pre-owned instead," Elledge insisted. "Car dealers try to lure buyers into buying new with low monthly payments that take years to pay off. You'll never be able to achieve financial freedom from debt if you always have a car payment."
Before buying a new car or making any type of large purchases, always assess your finances. Ask yourself: Can I really afford it? If not, comparison-shop and see if a used car is better for your budget.
This article was originally published on GOBankingRates.com.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
