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The 5 biggest and most common financial regrets and how to avoid them

Financial regrets are like the bad boyfriend your parents warned you about, but you couldn't see it until it was too late. Here's how to get ahead of these money mistakes.
Image: Financial regret
According to a recent study by Prudential, the average 2016 college graduate left school with $37,172 in student loans, nearly triple the average two decades earlier. Getty Images

Could have, should have, would have: We all have regrets in life, but none have quite the emotional sting of financial regrets. Why? Money enables us to live more comfortable lives, and when we make a mistake it’s almost impossible to “fix” without going out and earning more money. Also, since many financial decisions are made independently, there’s often no one else to blame but ourselves.

“Financial regrets are like that ex that your family warned you about, but you don’t see it. Then 10 years later you look back and you say, ‘What the heck was I thinking?’” says Dean Sioukas, CEO of Magilla, a search engine for business and home loans. “These are the kinds of things that really keep you up at night, because when your money is gone, it’s gone for good.”

Thankfully, we don’t all have to make the same mistakes — now’s your chance to learn from the experts.

1. Trusting the wrong people

Some people get into relationships solely because of what they hope to get out of them financially, explains Mela Garber, tax principal at Anchin Private Client in New York City. “Oftentimes, the person won’t ask for money in the beginning, so it may seem very innocent, but eventually they reveal the real reason they’re in the relationship.”

While con artists may forge checks and open credit cards in a victim’s name, others will simply ask for money to invest in a new business venture that never goes anywhere, or to pay bills. Individuals who may be especially vulnerable include those who have recently been divorced or widowed.

How to prevent it:

People have to be more attuned to the new friendships they’re forming, Garber explains. “If your friends and family comment negatively on the relationship or ask what this new person might be after, that’s a red flag,” she says. When in doubt, ask trusted loved ones who have known you for 20 years or more what they think. “Sometimes we have to put our feelings aside and listen to things we don’t want to hear,” Garber says.

2. Not buying a home when the timing is right

Homeownership is one of the best ways to generate wealth for the future, and it’s an excellent hedge against inflation, Sioukas says. “In a normal economy, if you don’t buy, you’re going to regret it. When you look back at how much you’ve spent on rent or how much the home you passed up has appreciated, that’s when you’re going to feel the pain.” In addition to lost money, there’s the intangible benefit of pride of ownership, and the relief of not having the looming fear of “What if the landlord raises the rent?” he says.

How to prevent it:

There’s no doubt that homeownership isn’t an option for everyone, dependent upon income and debt situations. But buying a home may be more accessible than you think — In many cases, you don’t have to put a full 20% down, and your financial planner may be able to put you on a savings path to homeownership that you’ll reach quicker than you think.

3. Taking on too much student loan debt

According to a recent study by Prudential, the average 2016 college graduate left school with $37,172 in student loans, nearly triple the average two decades earlier. The study showed that 44% of graduates with student debt wish they’d saved more, 34% wish they’d worked more to pay for college and 22% wish they’d chosen a more affordable school. As if the debt weren’t bad enough, two-thirds of graduates reported that their debt is an emotional burden that makes them frustrated, anxious, sad or angry when they think about what they spent.

44% of graduates with student debt wish they’d saved more, 34% wish they’d worked more to pay for college and 22% wish they’d chosen a more affordable school.

How to prevent it:

Thankfully, the study also looked at ways to alleviate these concerns. Some options include taking a job during school (such as an on-campus position or a position through your school’s work-study program), working full-time during the summer, getting on a budget, seeing a financial advisor and educating yourself via free resources such as the U.S. Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid Office.

4. Not saving and investing sooner

The power of time in compounding earnings from investments is frequently underestimated, says Dodee Crockett, a Dallas-based Merrill Lynch financial advisor. “The result is often that more working years are needed to meet the financial goals for family support and a comfortable retirement,” she says.

Barriers to investing — at any age — include lack of confidence and education, which go hand in hand, Crockett says. A new Merrill Lynch study showed that 41% of women said “not investing more” is their biggest financial regret, and 61% said they’d rather discuss details about their own death than talk about their money.

How to prevent it:

Take the time to educate yourself and meet with a professional, Crockett says. Tax-advantaged savings plans such as IRAs or the 401(k) offered by an employer are some of the easiest ways to invest — you should always take advantage of a company match when it’s offered.

5. Not having a prenuptial agreement

When people go through a divorce, the most common refrain is, “I never thought this would happen to me,” Garber says, and as a result, people don’t take steps to protect their assets.

“If you place all your assets into a joint account with your partner or buy a house with that person, then it all becomes joint marital property,” Garber explains. “If you get a divorce, the other person can take half, despite never doing anything to earn it.” Unfortunately, many people are afraid to ask their partner for a prenup, as it may be seen as a “cold” move.

How to prevent it:

Get a prenup, obviously. Families with large assets that need protecting, such as a business, may want to start conversations about the necessity of prenups early on, when their children are still in their teens and not in love yet, Garber says. “You can make it a family discussion, and say, ‘When you get married, there’s a document you’ll need your spouse to sign that will protect our business,’ so that way your child will know that it’s nothing personal against who they marry.”

With Kathryn Tuggle

SIMPLE MONEY HACKS THAT'LL HELP YOU SAVE

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