Wondering how you can set yourself>1. Not having an emergency fund
Having an emergency fund is key to avoid debt later in life, when retirement goals should be front and center.
Ideally, this account should cover three to six months of living expenses so you can ride out any unexpected events such as a job loss or costly medical issues.
It's wise to put your emergency fund in a savings account, not an investment account, so you can access it immediately and not have to worry about a downturn in the markets affecting how much money you have.
2. Being underinsured
Many people don't like to buy insurance because it means paying for something they hope to never use.
But the consequences of being uninsured are so large that they can wipe you out financially. One medical emergency or accident>3. Making minimum payments>4. Buying too much house
Given the crazy increase in house prices this year, the temptation to stretch and take>5. Not aggressively saving for retirement
When you're in your 30s, retirement can seem far away. But every dollar you save for retirement now will have 10 to 20 extra years to accumulate compound interest than money saved in your 40s and 50s.
If you work for an employer with a 401(k) or 403(b) plan, save at least enough to get the employer match. It's the>6. Saving for your kids before saving for yourself
Once you become a parent, it's natural to want to put your kids' needs in front of your own. But saving for your children's college education before you save for your own retirement is a huge mistake.
There are many ways to pay for college, such as scholarships and choosing less expensive schools or loans. One of my kids went to a public university, and the other received academic scholarships at a number of schools. But there's no way to pay for retirement other than saving.
