Common Mistakes to Watch For

These show up across the curriculum. Re-read this list every few months — old habits are sticky.

• Avoiding money because of shame.
• Focusing only on monthly payments instead of total cost.
• Ignoring due dates.
• Missing tax documents.
• Confusing credit reports with credit scores.
• Paying for questionable credit repair services.
• Trusting debt relief ads without research.
• Borrowing without understanding APR and total cost.
• Assuming all student loans have the same rules.
• Mixing up federal and private student loans.
• Buying insurance without understanding deductibles and coverage limits.
• Investing before understanding risk, fees, and time horizon.
• Chasing investment trends.
• Ignoring scams and identity theft risks.
• Treating rules of thumb as universal rules.
• Using outdated tax, benefit, or student loan information.
• Giving individualized advice when teaching others.