Do any of you have friends/ family that you look up to in the way that they handle their money? For me, I'd have to say my parents taught me well. They saved my mom's income and only lived on my dad's salary. They paid cash for big purchases like cars. They tried to teach us not to care what other people had and be happy with what we did have. I hope I can teach my kids the same lessons!

My parents are our role models. They are currently building their retirement home and have done very well with their savings. Like you, they only lived on Dad's salary, which was commission at that! They taught me how to deal with credit responsibly and to always save as much as possible.

I would have to say it was my aunt fran that took me under her wing and helped me understand money. If it was not for her, I would have gave up my name when I got married. I had great credit. He didn't. And to this day we still have separtate credit. I love her for that.

We have had older friends who took us under their wings over the years and I am forever grateful for them. One couple in particular are now retired and living out the plans that they built toward for decades. Because of them I take my retirement savings so much more seriously.

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"I've been rich and I've been poor but independently wealthy is where it is at."

If I had to pick someone I look up to financially it would be one of my aunts...She is amazing with her money, helped her ex SIL save $10,000 in 2 years towards her wedding, and has A+ credit. I take away so much knowledge in conversations with her!

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I would say I learned a lot from my parents what to do and learned a lot from my parents what NOT to do. My dad was often out of work when I was growing up so we lived very cheaply. I learned a lot about coupons, making do with what you have and making a dollar stretch. Unfortunately my parents were more 'penny wise & pound foolish' and did NOT plan for retirement or really understand how to handle money well in the long run. Right now my Dad has thousands in the bank earning 1% interest (he refuses to switch to higher earning accts I've suggested) and still has credit card debt paying 18% interest! Makes no sense but he won't listen to me. He could EASILY pay off the credit cards and still have a decent emergency fund but feels the safety of having the cash easily accessible. (sp?)

Both my sister and I are very similar in that we've become both penny wise and pound wise. It's almost eery how much alike we are with money management given the example that we had. Hopefully my DS will learn from whatever mistakes I make as well and be even smarter with his $$$.

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Better to give your kids the values you have
than the valuables you can't afford.

No, I don't! Maybe that's my problem!

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~Happiness is a large family~

My in-laws are my role models when it comes to finances. They don't give advice, but now that they are semi retired, you can tell they planned well. They always lived very frugally but still had fun. Now they have no debt (their house is even paid for!)

There are three people that greatly influenced my spending habits. My parents really taught me well how to handle my finances and to save up for things that I need and never to buy clothes on account and to be proud of what I had, not on what I could get on credit.

My aunt taught me alot too, she was awful with money and would waste it away, filed for bankrupcy twice and eventually relied on my grandparents to feed and house her. Through her bad ways I have seen what I did not want to become

I sure do! It's my Mom. She is such an inspiration and personal cheer-leader. I couldn't do it without her coaching and making me realize that I CAN DO IT!

I also have some "role models" on how NOT to manage money. They help in an entirely different way!!!!

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Children Learn What They Live, And Live What They Learn.
What have you taught your child today?
When life throws you a curve ball...it's up to you how you catch it!