“Prevention > Cure” and “investment in you and the things you use most will pay dividends in terms of health, money, and mobility” is the very TL;DR version.
If you’re in a country with an asinine healthcare system like the US, it’s definitely prudent to take care of your health rather than being caught out by something. This includes regular dental check-ups and cleaning (trust me).
You spend a lot of time sleeping. A good mattress and linens are very valuable to your health.
If you are on your feet a lot, comfortable should also be a priority even if they cost more.
Work out to your ability. Being sedentary is detrimental to your health and causes pain (both physical and financial).
Try to save and buy better quality versions of things where it makes sense. If you only spend $10 on something but it lasts only a year, it’s better to spend $30 or $50 on something that lasts you ten years or a lifetime.
Remember that investments can take many forms and pay out differently. Investing in your health is already mentioned, but invest in your education. If you don’t have money, you can still find tons of free resources online or at the library to skill up in ways that help your life (either your job prospects, your home life, or even your mental well-being).
And, perhaps more importantly than most other advise, live within your means.
I realize that not all of these are possible to everyone all the time (I was homeless for a while; I understand). These are goals and any progress is worth it; do not let perfect be the enemy of good.
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Spend less than you earn. Earning interest is better than paying interest.
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Debt can be good if used wisely. I took on debt to buy an apartment that saved me money due to cutting commute costs more than interest costs.
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Think long term.
Spending money on higher quality products makes more sense than having to buy the lower quality product multiple times in the same span. But also don’t assume just because it’s more expensive that it’s higher quality.
I was spending $80-120 each year on lower quality hiking boots. About 10 years ago I finally spent $250 on high quality Merrells, haven’t needed to buy a new pair since. I hope the quality is still the same when I need to buy a new pair in 2035.
Got some bad marks on your credit, even a 30-day late ding? Dispute them, even if they’re legit.
Americans can request a free credit report every year, from all 3 credit reporting agencies. Mark everything negative as, “wasn’t me”. The debtor has 30-days to respond, if they don’t, fuck 'em, it’s off your record.
Worst case? They come back and say the challenge was verified as false. Oh well.
If you can afford this…
…Whenever you’re at the store and make a debit card purchase with the option for cash back, get some back. $5, $10, $20…whatever. And put this into a rainy-day fund. You never know when you might need some quick cash or it’d be the make-or-break for a quick splurge.
Granted, I learned of this method from a friend of the family who used this method to hide money from her husband so take it with a grain of salt.
