23 Things to know about money

23 Things to Know about Money before you turn 25 (adapated for New Zealand by Moneyworks)

As a recent 25-year-old, I can promise we don’t believe we know everything. Most everything? Maybe. But not everything.

Honestly, a lot of younger 20-somethings I’ve spoken with the last few years still have a lot to learn when it comes to money.

Because of that, I thought I’d create a list of 23 things everyone needs to know about money before they turn 25.

Why before age 25? The point is that the earlier you learn this stuff, the more success you’ll have with money throughout your life.

1. Credit cards will make you broke. Two words: stay away! (or at least pay off the balance in full every month!)
2. Car payments aren’t a way of life. You can pay for a nice used car with cash and avoid the average $500/month car payment.
3. Budgeting is your best friend. It’s simple: people who make a plan for their money end up winning with money.
4. The Joneses are broke. Don’t try and keep up with the Joneses. They might look nice, but they’re in debt up to their eyeballs and one emergency away from financial disaster.
5. It’s okay to say no. If a friend asks you to go on a trip or out to dinner, and you don’t have the money, there’s nothing wrong with saying no. Your friends will understand. And if they don’t, you should find new friends!
6. Your parents will eventually get old. That means you’ll need to have “the conversation” with them about wills and estates before it’s too late.
7. You can be a student without a loan. Part-time jobs, scholarships, grants, more affordable schools—there are many ways to pay for college without debt.
8. Retirement matters as much now as it does 30 years from now. Start saving for retirement as early as you can and put compound interest to work for you.
9. Giving is one of the best things you can do with money. The more you have, the more you can give away to bless others.
10. The tortoise beats the hare every time. When it comes to money, patience will always pay off. Save and pay cash for stuff instead of using debt to “buy” them instantly.
11. Your first job might not be your dream job. See #10. Learn, get experience, and build your career. The corner office might not come right away.
12. Your first house might not be your dream house. Remember, your parents took 20 years to get their house. Don’t expect that level of house right away.
13. Structuring your mortgage on your home properly is vital. Otherwise you end up spending your whole life paying the mortgage back.
14. Marriage is much more difficult when you disagree with your spouse about money. Money fights are going to happen, but it’s extremely important that you agree on the basics of money—like budgeting, no debt, and saving.
15. Be happy with what you have. One word: contentment.
16. You won’t get out of debt until you get mad. To get out of debt, you’ve got to get sick and tired of being in debt. If you sorta, kinda want to get out of debt, you’ll never make it.
17. Personal finance is 80% behavior and only 20% head knowledge. It’s all about behavior change. We all know if we’re being irresponsible with money. But, many times, we go ahead and make bad choices anyway. That’s got to change!
18. Get-rich-quick schemes are good for one thing: making sure you get broke quick. There’s no magic pill to get rich. It takes time and hard work.
19. Your parents weren’t perfect, but they probably knew more than you gave them credit for. The older you get, the smarter your parents get.
20. Don’t travel the world unless you can pay for it. And by “pay for it,” I mean don’t use credit!
21. It’s okay to have stuff. Just don’t let your stuff have you. Don’t mess up your priorities and let materialism get the best of you.
22. Your parents’ house is not a bed and breakfast. Move out! By the time you’re 25, you should be long gone from your parents’ house and out on your own. Sure, you might have transitional periods where you stay for a few weeks, but don’t become a boomerang kid.
23. Eating out every night is a really quick way to go broke. You can $10 yourself to the poorhouse if you aren’t careful. The occasional night out is fine, but don’t make it a habit, especially if you’re already in debt.

Rachel Cruze is a seasoned communicator and presenter, helping Americans learn the proper ways to handle money and stay out of debt. Her new book Smart Money Smart Kids, co-authored by her dad Dave Ramsey, released April 2014 and debuted at #1 on the New York Times best-sellers list.

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