(01) Spend less than you earn! Save max in tax advantaged forms.
(02) Emergency fund equals a six month run rate.
(03) Save 10% for yourself; give 10% to charity.
(04) Insure the risks you can't afford to absorb.
(05) Separate your employment from your insurances, if possible.
(06) Understand your taxes that are deducted from your paycheck and the hidden ones like inflation.
(07) Value your benefits correctly. They may not be worth what you think
(08) If you have to ask the price, you can't afford it. Don't buy it!
(09) Pay off credit cards every month. If you can't, you can't afford what you bought. Take it back or sell it!
(10) Rent apartment if you have; buy a single family home as soon as you can.
(11) Buy your house to last a lifetime; pay it off in 20 years; no helocs; no refinance.
(12) Plan for your car to have at least a six year life; eight or ten is better.
(13) Finance that car if you have to for no more than three years; don't prepay it (rule of 78).
(14) Pay for six; first three to the credit union; after that to an earmarked savings account.
(15) That savings account is the maximum purchase price of the next one.
(16) Investments are not the emergency fund; not lotto tickets.
(17) Never invest in anything you can't explain to a child. Don't bet against the trend.
(18) No more than 5% in any one investment type, individual stock, or custodian.
(19) Special care if you buy your employer's stock; going belly up takes your paycheck and investment.
(20) When investing worry about roi first, taxes second, and risk third.
(21) Spend according to a lifetime plan; don't die too rich; don't enjoy life to save; you only go around once!