6 Surprisingly Common Financial Mistakes People Make in Their 20's (2024)

6 Surprisingly Common Financial Mistakes People Make in Their 20’s: It is often said that the mistakes you make in your early days come back revolving around you in the future. We all have been a spectator of how lifestyle standards have been raised to a whole another level.

Statistics say that we tend to indulge in reckless shopping mostly in our 20’s. Keeping up with the standards of style quotient might be one of the reasons for adults to not pay attention to their savings. It is a matter of time when you get to realize how roughly life can strike you with its lows.

We don’t mean to scare you in the first place but in this article, we have managed to gather some of the most common financial mistakes that people do in their 20’s that can end up making them financially vulnerable in the near future. You can pay attention to them to know money mistakes to avoid in your 20’s. So, let’s get started.

Common Financial Mistakes People Make in Their 20’s

1. Pursuing a degree you don’t want to on a student loan

You have to admit that in your teen years, you find it very hard to decide what you want to pursue and make your career in. In countries like India, we get influenced by the aspirations of our parents and society that eventually end up getting us admitted to colleges for a degree that doesn’t even ring a bell to us. Most people choose to pay their college fees through loans that they have to repay at a considerable interest rate which can be really burdensome sometimes.

2. Getting influenced by big fat Indian wedding

Accept it or not, it is just one day party in which you blow your entire life savings just by being fascinated by that glittery and sugar-coated wedding idea and plan. This is one of the major money mistakes to avoid in your 20’s. The wedding industry is one of the biggest industries in the country with an annual turnover of billions. Now, you need to understand that there are other important things in your life which you can spend wisely on. Have a good wedding but don’t put your entire financial savings at stake.

3. Not being in a habit to save

Trust us; it is very easy to save a part of your income. With this habit, you would be able to make your future much better. Spending your entire income on things and services could ensure you a luxurious lifestyle for now but at the same time, it is also putting you in a risky position in the future.

Life is really unpredictable and uncertain and you never know what you are going to need in the future. Moreover, if you will look for a switch of job in the future, you will definitely need some cash in hand to keep your stomach full for a couple of days until you get a hold of your new job.

4. Not keeping an emergency fund

Most people choose to spend their money on shares and the stock market without even knowing a bit about it. Instead, you should maintain and put enough money in your emergency fund that will back you up in the odd times that might act as a hurdle in your life in the future.

You must put enough money in the fund for medical expenses and at least 6 months of unemployment. There are various ways and schemes provided by different insurance companies to ensure such funds for you. Sadly, most people in their 20’s fail to keep an emergency fund for themselves.

5. Not saving for your retirement

The age group of the 20’s is also known as the carefree zone. As the name suggests, most people are unaware and seem careless about their retirement plans. Of course, they must find the time of their retirement far enough to be out of scope but it is actually not. The 20’s is the correct time to start your retirement fund.

You must make sure to put a little every month in the retirement that would yield an amount adequate enough to feed you and fulfill your needs after your retirement. Another money mistakes to avoid in your 20’s is not paying attention to your retirement fund.

6. Spending recklessly on credit cards

Getting your hands on a credit card is very easy these days. Seems like teenagers in their 20’s cannot keep their hands off these credit cards! With amazing schemes, cash backs and numerous deals going on every day at various places make you spend a fortune through these easy cards.

Now, you must remember that the money has to be paid by you only at the end. Most people get caught in their debt of credit cards bill and keep on paying for months and years to completely get rid of those debts. That is why one should remember to spend wisely in their 20’s.

I hope this post on “6 Surprisingly Common Financial Mistakes People Make in Their 20’s” helps the newbies in their early 20’s to avoid these common mistakes.

Further, do comment below if you had made any big financial mistake in your 20’s.

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6 Surprisingly Common Financial Mistakes People Make in Their 20's (2024)

FAQs

Is it normal to struggle financially in your 20s? ›

Most people, even in their mid-to-late 20s are still struggling to establish themselves. That can be hard to do if your job isn't paying you enough, you're struggling to make rent, have no savings, and are being crushed by debt.

What is the number one mistake people make in the financial world? ›

1. No budget, no financial plan. Let's face it – if you don't know where the money goes, you could be spending more than you earn. Everyone, regardless of income, needs a budget.

What are the biggest financial mistakes Americans make? ›

This brief list represents five of the biggest mistakes financial experts say Americans commonly make, and how you might sidestep them.
  • Believing an emergency fund is a pipe dream. ...
  • Carrying credit card debt. ...
  • Putting off retirement saving. ...
  • Impulse buying. ...
  • Not writing a will.
Feb 1, 2024

What is one financial mistake everyone should avoid? ›

Mistake #1: Spending every penny

Here's the secret to achieving most financial goals: saving money. But you can't save if you spend everything you earn.

What is the 50 30 20 rule? ›

The 50-30-20 rule recommends putting 50% of your money toward needs, 30% toward wants, and 20% toward savings. The savings category also includes money you will need to realize your future goals.

Where should a 25 year old be financially? ›

By age 25, you should aim to have an emergency fund of 3-6 months of living expenses, and start regularly contributing to retirement savings to take advantage of compound interest over time, even if it's just small amounts.

What is your biggest financial regret? ›

The top regrets included not having a big enough emergency fund (mentioned by 28% of respondents), not investing aggressively enough (25%) and not buying a house when they were younger (22%).

What is the nastiest hardest problem in finance? ›

Bill Sharpe famously said that decumulation is the “nastiest, hardest problem in finance”, and he is right. What's less well-known is Bill Sharpe's proposed solution to this problem, which he called the “lock-box approach”.

What are 3 areas of money management that confuse you? ›

However, the 3 areas of money management that confuse the most is Confusing Profit With Cash, Failing to Manage Cash Flow and Spending Too Much Too Soon.

Why do most people struggle financially? ›

The high cost of living, wealth inequality and job market uncertainty have all contributed to financial vulnerability, even among wealthy families.

What percent of America is struggling financially? ›

Almost 40% of American adults report they struggle to make ends meet each month, an increase from 34.4% in 2022 and 26.7% in 2021. At 46.2%, Louisiana had the highest percentage reporting financial struggles followed by Mississippi (45.7%) and Arkansas (45.6%).

Are Americans still struggling financially? ›

Most Americans Are Still Struggling Post COVID-19

Contrarily, the wealthiest 20% of households still maintain cash savings at approximately 8% above pre-pandemic levels. Ultimately, with inflation taken into account, the majority of Americans are worse off financially compared with before the start of the pandemic.

What is the number one rule wealth? ›

1 – Never lose money. Let's kick it off with some timeless advice from legendary investor Warren Buffett, who said “Rule No. 1 is never lose money.

How do I forgive myself for financial mistakes? ›

Here are 5 steps to help you move forward after a financial mistake and love yourself again:
  1. Step 1: Acknowledge the mistake. In order to move on, you need to accept and acknowledge whatever financial mistake you have made. ...
  2. Step 2: Talk about it. ...
  3. Step 3: Focus on the present. ...
  4. Step 4: Don't stop learning. ...
  5. Step 5: Let go.

How much money should you have in your 20s? ›

Financial experts typically recommend saving up three to six months' worth of necessary expenses in order to have a healthy, fully-funded emergency account. So, there's no specific number that a person in their twenties needs to have in their emergency fund — it should be based on their necessary monthly expenses.

At what age are most people financially stable? ›

That said, the typical age of financial independence should be between 20-23 years old, according to a Bankrate survey.

How can I be financially stable in my 20s? ›

Financial moves to make in your 20s
  1. Develop good budgeting habits. ...
  2. Pay down debt. ...
  3. Automate your savings. ...
  4. Build good credit. ...
  5. Start saving for retirement. ...
  6. Make sure you and your loved ones are covered financially. ...
  7. Work toward owning your home.

How much money does the average person in their 20s have saved? ›

In fact, people in their 20s were able to save an average of nearly $5,580 last year, according to data from New York Life, putting them third on the list of age groups that saved the most in 2023. That's less than the average amount of $7,148 people in their 20s aimed to save, but how much should you really be saving?

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