10 money tips for women
October 29, 2009 · Tagged with Banking and Budgeting
When it comes to women and finance, sometimes there’s a disconnect between what women know and how they act, their ability as achiever and their financial underachieving, and between the power they have within reach and the powerlessness that rules their actions.
Financial expert Suze Orman gives her list of the top 10 money tips for women to follow:
1. Listen to Your Gut
Women are compassionate toward those in need. Instead of going with their gut, they sometimes overlook the obvious and make an emotional money mistake. “A friend, relative, loved one will approach you saying, ‘I need to borrow $5,000.’ You’ll think ‘I don’t want to’ and yet you say ‘OK,’” Suze explains. So, think twice before you say yes if your gut is saying no.
2. NEVER Co-Sign for ANYONE
If a friend or family member asks for you to co-sign on a loan, it’s probably best to say no. Suze says more often than not, the borrower will default or pay late and you risk losing money or lowering your credit score because as the co-signer, you are ultimately responsible for the loan. Say no out of love, not out of fear.
3. Save Yourself First
If you don’t have enough to save for your child’s college fund and your retirement, your retirement takes precedence.
As explained in Suze’s book “Women & Money,” women think they are actually helping their children by paying for their college or wedding. It’s a myth. You help your children by saving yourself first. If you retire without ample money to support yourself, you will become a financial burden to your children. There are plenty of loans for college, but there are no loans for retirement.