If you had to give someone one piece of financial advice, what would it be?

Mine would be to live below your means. It sounds like common sense, but most Americans don't do this!

__________________
Read my Mommysavers Blog: Forget the Joneses
NEW! Check out the Mommysavers Fan Page on Facebook

Too many people (myself once included) had NO idea what they are spending their money on! How much do you spend for groceries, how much for gas, etc. So many people are so afraid of the B word - Budgeting - that they just ignore it all together! NOT a good idea! If you've been doing this (like I was to an extent) and you start watching your money, generally you will quickly find ways to cut back!

__________________

Don't charge anything unless it's an emergency, and you don't have any other way of paying for it (appliances, car problems, etc).

Make a budget early on and stick to it.
Dont get credit cards
Dont get over your head with too many payments; multiple car loans, etc.

__________________


Nothing is as important as passion. No matter what you want to do with your life, be passionate.
Jon Bon Jovi

Learn the difference between need and want.

__________________

This year our budget seem really burden on us too much because my husband quit his old job due to work hour cut and pay being decrease. Plus I work for government for 11 years and will stay work there until retired. My husband and I are planning to open second bank account at other credit union to save up for our move to other rental house, family vacation, emergency and Christmas. Plus we are planning to enroll our son to preschool next year that should help our budget that we pay the babysitter every week. I hope the year of 2008 will be better for us and work very hard to save up the money.

The main advice I give to young newlyweds but is really for any couple with two salaries, is to gradually cut back until you're living off only the bigger salary and putting the second salary into savings. This way you are saving up for emergencies and retirement while you have that second income and will be ready when babies come (one can easily be a SAHP) or one loses their job for some reason and then you'll be able to make it with only one salary.

Don't shop @ extravagant places just so everyone that's "in the know" knows you're there.
I find most of my fashionable somethings @ Ross and I love the deals I get.
Competition can be healthy if it's not taken advantage of, but I like competing in who can save the most this week. Surround yourself w/ people that live comfortably frugal, for you won't have to "keep up" with the stigma.
I like surrounding myself w/ people I can learn from

__________________
You must be the change you want to see in the world ~ Gandhi

pay yourself first. save in a 401k and reduce your taxable income. along with all the others advice!!!

__________________
SILENCE IS GOLDEN BUT DUCK TAPE IS SILVER.

This is mine too. I think that so many financial problems could be eliminated if more people lived below their means.