Suze Orman
Make this the year you tackle that credit card debt once and for all.
Thoughtful financial planning can easily take a backseat to daily life.
Remember what I always say: people first, then money, then things.
Every portfolio benefits from bonds; they provide a cushion when the stock market hits a rough patch. But avoiding stocks completely could mean your investment won't grow any faster than the rate of inflation.
Everybody in America started to define themselves by all these things they had around them. And all of a sudden it came tumbling down. So the old American dream has died, and that is a good thing.
The world does not need another credit card.
In January we start saving money, getting out of credit card debt, funding our retirement accounts, and we're doing wonderful. Then, every single year like clockwork, starting in November, all of you fall into this trap that says, 'I have to buy this gift... I can't show up at this party and not have something for everybody.'
We women know how to take care of everybody so well. But the one person we have written out of the equation is us.
Pay off your mortgage before retirement, and that's one less bill you'll have to worry about when you're on a fixed income.
There is nothing more beautiful than a confident woman.
Once your kids are grown and you know that you're completely healthy, consider canceling your life insurance policy.
Never invest emergency savings in the stock market.
Learn to recognize true wealth. Money itself will not make you financially free. That comes as a result of only that powerful state of mind which tells us that we are worth far more than our money.
I think they've been baby bummers.
If you have debt I'm willing to bet that general clutter is a problem for you too.
Opposites may attract, but I wouldn't put my money on a relationship of financial opposites.
They got married, they got divorced, and half their money goes out the window.
We never had it as rough as the kids have it today. Look at the price of a gallon of gas or a piece of real estate or a college education.
If you're going down the street and you're going the wrong way, remember - God permits U-turns.
When you give, give from the place of the heart because it is the right thing to do, not the easy thing to do.
I simply want you to give to yourself as much as you give of yourself. By taking care of yourself financially, you will truly be able to take care of those you love.
Never cosign a loan. Once you have cosigned, you cannot get out of it - even on your deathbed.
The most important loan to pay is your student loan. It's more important than your mortgage, car and credit card payments. You cannot discharge student loan debt in the majority of cases.
Never, ever invest money that you will need prior to three to five years - minimum.
If you're going to live in the house make it your goal to just pay off your mortgage.
Focus on what you have.
If you wait until your children are high school seniors to spring it on them that there's not a whole lot of money for school, they won't have too many options.
Consider a 15- or 20-year fixed-rate mortgage instead of a 30-year, if you can afford the monthly payments - they may not be as high as you think.
Ignore the annual percentage rate when shopping for a mortgage.
Opt for a fixed-rate rather than an adjustable-rate mortgage.
Who would you want to be giving you advice? Somebody who doesn't have any money?
The world needs another vehicle to get people to pay in cash.
Get rid of debt now.
Cut back your spending now.
Make it a priority to have at least eight months of living costs set aside in a federally insured bank or credit union account.
You must recognize, embrace, and be honest about what is real for you today and allow that understanding to inform the choices you make. Only then will you be able to build the future of your dreams.
Learn how to prioritize all your debt. And did you know student loan debt is the most dangerous debt any of us can have?
Give to yourself as much as you give of yourself! This means you have to put yourself first.
The way to build your savings is by spending less each month.
Those carrying a credit card balance should scale back to making the minimum payment each month so they have more money to put into savings.
I have always advocated doing everything possible to pay off credit card balances; it's good financial management and the ticket to a strong FICO credit score.
Credit card companies are jacking up interest rates, lowering credit limits, and closing accounts - and people who have made timely payments are not exempt. So even if you pay off your balance - and that's tough when interest rates are insanely high - there's a good chance your credit limit will be slashed, and that will hurt your FICO score.
If the only way you can build an emergency fund is to pay the minimum due on your credit card, that is what you need to do.
I love, love, love that you want to use your debit card. But to keep your credit score solid, you still need to keep a few credit cards and use them at least once every few months.
To enjoy a long, comfortable retirement, save more today.
Late payments also hurt your FICO score. And never, ever take out a cash advance on your credit card.
It pays to be a fee fiend.
People often panic when the markets go down and sell off their stocks - but then they aren't in the game when the markets are doing well.
If you're saving for the long run, it's actually a good thing when the market is down because the more shares you have, the more you can potentially make when markets rise. And over time - decades, not months - the markets rise more than they fall.