This piece is part of my 2016–2026 archive migration. Some original formatting, content, and external links may be missing, changed, or not be optimized.
Take your finances to sky-high levels
Tip 2: Avoid car payments. If you decide to take on a car payment, have the cash (in your bank account) to buy the car outright.
Tip 3: Keep your net worth positive – at all times.
Tip 4: Always have a minimum of 2 income sources. But aim for more if possible. Never depend on one source of income. Diversify. Diversify. Diversify.
Tip 5: Budget daily. Keep track of your money daily. Always know what is happening with your money. Be 100% aware.
Tip 6: Stay in charge of YOUR money. Never leave the responsibility of your money up to someone else.
Tip 7: Pay for everything via credit card to earn money or points back on purchases and increase your financial security.
Tip 8: If you can’t use a credit card responsibly, stay away from them altogether.
Tip 9: If you have kids, open up a retirement or investment account for them the day you get pregnant, adopt, or start prepping to have your kid. Why not set up your kid to be a millionaire before age 30?
Tip 10: Buy only what you truly desire. Don’t buy to impress. Don’t buy because everyone else is buying. Don’t buy to fill a void. Don’t buy things you won’t use consistently. Always buy intentionally.
Tip 11: Increase your income yearly. Never go a year without increasing your income. Get creative.
Tip 12: Repair your car instead of buying a new one.
Tip 13: Keep an eye on your credit score and credit health to ensure you’re the only one using it.
Tip 14: Until you reach financial independence, live with family, friends, or roommates to save money and live below your means. But you may want to continue living with others even after reaching financial independence. Extra cash flow always feels good.
Tip 15: Be cautious of costly habits.
Tip 16: If you have an employer, max out your 401k match, and contribute the max amount per year. Never throw away free money.
Tip 17: Spend substantially less than you earn. Always have money left over at the end of the month. Avoid living paycheck to paycheck at all costs.
Tip 18: Be careful who you shack up with, partner up with, or date; ensure they are money conscientious. Make sure the person you are with has a healthy relationship with money. Maintain firm financial boundaries. Do not let others divert you from your financial goals.
Tip 19: Don’t have kids you can’t afford.
Tip 20: Intake copious amounts of financial advice, but make your own decisions about which advice to follow. But the one piece of advice you should always follow is: Invest now. Invest early.
Tip 21: If you have debt, invest while you pay off your debt because one thing you cannot get back is time; and compound interest thrives off time.
Tip 22: Never cease your financial education. Read books and articles, attend seminars, listen to podcasts, and chat with financial experts. Be sure to intake new and reliable financial knowledge continually. When you know better, you do better. The earlier you learn about money, the better off you’ll be financially.
Tip 23: Don’t spend money to impress people, not even yourself. What a waste this is.
Tip 24: Don’t live in states you can’t afford. Instead, take a vacation to the location.
Tip 25: Avoid student loans if you can. Aim to go to school for free, with scholarships, jobs, programs, etc.
This content is for informational purposes only — not professional advice. Consult a qualified professional before making any major decisions.