Comments on: Reader Question: What Was Your Biggest Financial Mistake?

By: Asada

Asada — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 22:09:07 +0000

Dropping out repteadly.
Not just from classes, but from college in general.
Now I have to repeat classes to bring my GPA up.

By: JamesD

JamesD — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 13:05:18 +0000

Thanks for the useful info. It’s so interesting

By: fern

fern — Fri, 29 May 2009 16:34:27 +0000

It’s been a long time since i was in school, but my biggest ever financial mistake: not asking for more $$ at a job when it was very clear they loved me. I am 100% sure i could easily have gotten $10,000 more in salary, probably even $15,000 more.

So while yes, in this economy, it could be tough finding a job period, if you are very good at what you do and you get clear signals from a prospective employer you’ve impressed them, be aware they WILL be willing to pay more for a well-qualified candidate. In other words, shrewdly assess your abilities and talent; if you haven’t worked long in your industry, don’t expect salary miracles, but if, as i said, you’re very good at what you do, don’t settle for less than what you believe is reasonable.

By: ChristiaanH

ChristiaanH — Thu, 28 May 2009 18:41:01 +0000

My biggest mistake is slightly undefined but I think “Wasting a LOT of money and time” would certainly cut it.

I was just an average student in highschool, and I made all the wrong descissions. I could have been so much more today if only I was a bit more sensible.

That being said I now nkow exactly where I’m going and how to get there. I also have a life philosophy now. Something I learned when comming to terms with all the mistakes. Gues they weren’t all that bad after all, they served a purpose.

By: daniel

daniel — Thu, 28 May 2009 08:43:18 +0000

The biggest financial mistake of my college years (undergrad and grad) was not having a WRITTEN plan (aka a budget) for my money. I had no real idea of how much money I truly had and so I thought of myself as “poor”. Once I started budgeting, I realized that I could have achieved so much more during those college years than I actually did. A smaller school debt (my second biggest mistake) would have been possible. A graduation “cushion” would have been possible. Study abroad perhaps…who knows?

By: Wojciech @ Fiscal Fizzle

Wojciech @ Fiscal Fizzle — Wed, 27 May 2009 23:24:39 +0000

My biggest mistake through college had to be not thinking ahead enough and saving some money aside.

I operated on a break-even budget – I would take all the money I made with my part time job, convert it to cash, and spend it before the next paycheck.

I could have used a nice cushion on cash when I graduated, but didn’t have a dime or even a savings account opened.

By: Nate @ Money Young

Nate @ Money Young — Wed, 27 May 2009 21:20:18 +0000

Spending on food. The community college had great food(not fast food). I think I spent way too much on this during my first couple years.

-Nate

By: Paul

Paul — Wed, 27 May 2009 20:27:56 +0000

My biggest waste of money was on books, definitely. I bought my books new the first two quarters when in reality I could’ve bought them used, found them online, or shared with a friend. I wasted a lot of money.

By my third quarter, though, I’d managed to work it out, and I only spent about $25 on textbooks.