Fine print

Read the fine print. The smaller the print the higher the price to you personally.

Yes, I'm serious. If you are putting your name on it you better read it. If you don't want to read it then don't put your name on it.

Don't let laziness, or coaxing by the person trying to get your signature, cause you nothing but heartache (and money) later. Invest now in the small amount of time it takes to be prepared.
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Never co-sign a loan

Never co-sign a loan. If a bank that's in the loan business turned them down what makes you think they can pay it back?

Never ever mix friends or family with your money.

Do your own research on this. The dynamic it creates (or disintegrates) between you and friends and family isn't worth participating in this simple act.

Don't co-sign. There. Class dismissed.
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FICO

FICO is nothing more than a “how am I doing at borrowing and paying money back” score.

If you are debt-free your score eventually will go to zero.

Let me say that again. If you owe no one at all, you eventually will have a score of zero.

If you are a millionaire, owe no one, you will have a zero FICO score. To have a FICO score you must owe money. How crazy is this?
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Paycheck to paycheck

Don’t take financial advice from people who are broke.

These would be the people in the cubicle next to you at work, people related to you, people you went to school with, people on the internet, people on TV, you get the idea.

Seven out of 10 households live paycheck to paycheck and the average household has $9,000 to $10,000 in credit card debt.

Why ask them for advice? Do your own work. You are smart enough.
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Always be in control

Budgeting is a weekly exercise. Look at where you are and always be in control.

Too many work up a quick budget, often incomplete, and never look at it as the months progress. Then when they still have no idea where they stand financially and are spending more than they have they blame the budget they "tried" way back when.

The budget is a living thing. It needs to be attended to EVERY week.
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Dave Ramsey

Dave Ramsey (www.daveramsey.com) has written "The Total Money Makeover," "Financial Peace," "More Than Enough" and many more articles, columns, and books.

Everything you need to know is in his teachings. I love The Baby Steps, they are brilliant. Buy the books and I suspect you will buy more copies for those you care about.
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No brainer

It wasn't that long ago that paying off a house before retiring was common practice. We can bring back this practice if we put our minds to it.

Not paying off your house before retirement brings a huge amount of risk to your retirement peace of mind. If the home is paid for your largest monthly expense is eliminated and your retirement income needs are less.

It's a no brainer, pay off the home, then retire.
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