useful financial guidelines:

Here are some other useful financial guidelines:

• The more you learn, the more you earn. In the U.S., education has a greater impact on work-life earnings than any other demographic factor. Your age, race, gender, and location all influence what you earn, but nothing matters more than what you know.
• Bank a raise. When you get a salary bump, don’t increase your spending. Stay the course and put the added income into savings.
• Always take the employer match on the 401(k).
• Never touch your retirement savings — except for retirement.
• Never co-sign on a loan. (Ever.)
• Avoid paying interest on anything that loses value. It’s okay to finance a home or a college education but avoid taking out a loan on a car.
• Speaking of cars: When you buy a vehicle, buy used or buy new and plan to drive it for at least ten years. (Do both and you’ll save even more!)
• Don’t mess with the IRS. When it comes to taxes, don’t try to cheat. Pay what you owe. Claim all the deductions you deserve, but don’t try to stretch things.
• In general, save an emergency fund first; pay off high-interest debt second; and begin investing (at the same time you pay down remaining debt) last.
• It almost always makes more sense (and cents) to repair your old car than to buy a new one.
• If you’re not willing to pay cash for it, then it doesn’t make sense to buy it on credit. (I have a friend whose guiding principle is: “If I wouldn’t buy five, why would I buy one?” Similar idea taken to an extreme.)
• Save for your own retirement before saving for your children’s college education. They can get loans for school. You can’t get loans for retirement.