Money can be a taboo subject, but it’s also an important one. Personal finance skills are crucial not only for managing day-to-day expenses, but also for planning the future.
It can be intimidating to get started — maybe we feel like money is already stretched too thin to save, our debt feels insurmountable, or we don’t know the first thing about investing. Luckily, there are lots of personal financial experts to help get us started on the path to financial freedom.
From successful economists to investors to business magnates and beyond, these people all agree on a basic set of ideas: It’s best to put any fear or feelings of shame aside, take an honest look at our financial life, and get started as soon as we can. The sooner we get a handle on our own finances, the better the long-term outlook. Here are eight nuggets of wisdom to inspire your best financial life.
Whether we’re talking about socks or stocks, I like buying quality merchandise when it is marked down.
— Warren Buffett
A latte spurned is a fortune earned.
— David Bach, author of "The Automatic Millionaire"
Few things make people broke as quickly as trying to appear rich.
— Dave Ramsey
A big part of financial freedom is having your heart and mind free from worry about the what-ifs of life.
— Suze Orman
Kids need to learn the natural consequences of money and that the only way you get money is to earn it.
— Neale Godfrey, author of "Money Doesn't Grow on Trees: A Parent's Guide to Raising Financially Responsible Children"
Successful investing is about managing risk, not avoiding it.
— Benjamin Graham, economist, investor, and mentor to Warren Buffett
Paying yourself first is not easy. In fact, it can be scary, especially when the bills are piling up. But you must develop the self-discipline to do it.
— Robert Kiyosaki, author of "Rich Dad Poor Dad"
Shame surrounding money causes people to put off prioritizing their finances, but it’s crucial to start now. Start paying off debt now. Start budgeting now. And start investing as soon as you can.
— Tori Dunlap, host of the “Financial Feminist” podcast
Photo credit: Aleksandr Zubkov/ Moment via Getty Images
