The Stash 100: Money tips everyone needs to know | Stash Learn

The Stash 100: Money tips everyone needs to know

Published: Nov 14, 2023

• Updated: Jan 21, 2025

All that to say: Improving the bottom line has never been harder for hardworking Americans. So in service of helping you get on track, Stash collected 100 of the best financial tips you’ll want to implement going into 2024—advice that will lessen the burden on your wallet and make it possible for you to get closer to your money goals.

Our Stash 100 tips are simple, jargon-free, and easy to follow. Bookmark them, share with your friends, and scrawl them on your mirror. It’s advice that will lessen the burden on your wallet and, even more importantly, put your mind at ease as you tackle the world ahead.

Investing

Invest now. The sooner you start investing, the greater your earning potential.
Invest for the long-term with a buy-and-hold approach, and put your money to work.
Invest regularly, and it becomes a powerful new habit that compounds your success.
Diversify. Choose a variety of investments with different risks to reduce your risk of loss and reduce swings in your account value.
Choose low-fee ETFs. It’s safer to invest in ETFs, or baskets of assets, than in any one asset.
Take advantage of dollar-cost averaging, which is periodically buying certain stocks or other assets using a set amount of money on a schedule. You’ll buy assets when the price is low and when it’s high without being driven by emotion.
Combat inflation by investing your cash. Keeping too much money on-hand allows inflation to erode its value over time.
Don’t be afraid to invest. Having some cash is important, but keeping all your money on the sidelines can put you at risk for missing out on tens of thousands, or even millions of dollars over the course of your lifetime.
Keep your emotions in check. Avoid impulsive decisions based on fear or greed, and instead focus on your long-term goals and intentions.
Don’t panic sell just because an investment is down. Knee-jerk reactions can derail your investing success.
Leave day-trading behind. You can be a great investor without being a frequent trader. In fact, trading less often can often be a better investment strategy.
Focus on goals. Understand your objectives and time horizon to help you determine what combination of investments is right for you.
Park your cash in short-term Treasurys if you think you will use it within a year.
Learn the value of compound interest, or when interest earns interest because it remains invested. It allows your money to grow exponentially over time.
Avoid concentration risk. Buying individual stocks can be fun, but you shouldn’t invest more than 2% of your portfolio in any one stock.
Automate your investments. Then check in at least once a year or when you have a major life change to make sure your investing strategy still makes sense for you.
Understand and minimize what fees you are paying on your investments. Compare similar funds’ expense ratios and look out for commissions and other hidden fees.
Don’t trust anyone that tells you they know how the market or a stock will perform in the future. No one has a crystal ball.
Remember that investing is a marathon, not a sprint. Get-rich-quick schemes often end up in losses.

Retirement Planning

Save for retirement. The years pass faster than you expect.
Start by saving 1% of your salary if that’s all you can afford now, and work your way up in 1% increments. Saving for retirement may feel like a luxury or impossibility, but any amount of savings is better than none.
Use standard guidelines for retirement planning: Consider setting aside 15% of your pre-tax salary for retirement if you want to retire in your 60s and maintain your lifestyle.
Calculate a personal retirement goal. If you aren’t sure, retirees typically spend between 70-80% of their pre-retirement income to maintain a similar lifestyle. You can also multiply how much you think you’ll spend every year of retirement by 25, and start there.
Does your employer offer a retirement plan? Evaluate the investment options because every plan is different. Then choose one that’s appropriate for you, and never let your contributions sit idle.
Don’t leave money on the table. Prioritize taking advantage of any employer match offered in your retirement plan.
Consider multiple accounts. If you’re eligible for an employer-sponsored plan like a 401(k) and an individual retirement account like a traditional or Roth IRA, you may want to take advantage of both simultaneously—they each have their own pros and cons.
Add social security benefits into your calculations by checking your Social Security Statement at SSA.gov. Guaranteed monthly income in retirement can help you maintain your retirement nest egg much longer.
Healthcare related costs are retirees’ largest annual expense. Consider investing in a Health Savings Account (HSA) if you have access to a high deductible health plan. They have great tax benefits and will help offset those large expenses in your golden years.
Try to avoid touching your retirement accounts, and learn about the tax implications and penalties associated with different retirement account withdrawals. Retirement funds are generally only accessible without penalty after you turn 59.5.
Plan to retire early? Understand the tax rules and penalties of accessing your investments, and consider having alternate investment accounts that you can withdraw from first if need be.
Avoid cashing out your retirement plan when changing jobs (it’s called an early distribution), which can tack on taxes and fees. Roll that money into an IRA or your new company’s 401(k) plan and allow the money to continue to grow.

Financial Wellness

Honor the principles of saving and investing. It’s not about how much you make—you can make a million dollars a year and still be flat broke if you spend it all.
Set SMART savings goals. Make goals Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic & Timely. This will help keep you motivated and aware of your progress.
Establish an emergency fund as priority one. A good rule of thumb is to save between 3-6 months worth of your essential expenses.
Eliminate stress over your bills by setting up automatic payments.
Avoid the pitfalls of the U.S. post office by opting for direct electronic payments.
Save money by changing banks. You may reduce expenses like monthly fees by switching banks or using an online financial institution for your checking and savings accounts.
Earn money on your cash. Set aside what you need for regular spending, then maximize the interest you earn on excess cash by comparing high yield savings accounts, money market funds, and U.S. Treasurys.
Pay yourself first. Sometimes an employer can deposit a percentage of your paycheck directly into your savings or investment account, or set up an automatic transfer for when your paycheck hits.
Check your pay stub regularly. Ensure that deductions are accurate and tax withholding seems appropriate. Consult HR right away if something seems off.
Protect what you have. Insurance is an often overlooked part of financial health. Whether it’s adequate health insurance, car insurance, homeowners, life or disability, set yourself up for unexpected life events.
Jumpstart your child’s long-term savings with a custodial account.
Talk to your kids about money. Teaching financial skills such as budgeting at a young age can help lead to strong financial habits as they grow. Celebrate milestones together to model diligence.
Acknowledge your hard work when you hit a savings balance or come in under budget. It’ll keep you motivated for future success.
Take security seriously. Use strong passwords, two-factor verification, and secure internet connections when managing your finances online.
Be vigilant about phishing scams, especially approaching the holiday season when fraud activity tends to increase.

Budgeting

Create a budget to help you understand where your money goes every month. One way to do it: Take the money that hits your bank account, minus your expenses, equals what’s available for your goals.
Keep budgeting simple with the 80/20 approach: Save 20% of what you make so you limit the rest of your spending to 80% of your income. You can also get even more detailed with the 50/30/20 rule.
Keep a money journal and track all of your expenses—but don’t let it overwhelm you. The goal is to build awareness of your spending habits.
Create funds for large and irregular expenses like the holidays, travel, camp, or car maintenance. Set aside money each paycheck or month so that the money is available when you want it.
If taxes aren’t automatically deducted from your paycheck, set aside part of your paycheck so you don’t find yourself in trouble come filing season. 25-35% is a good starting point.
Make a shopping list in advance—and stick to it! Studies show you can save yourself from unplanned purchases when you have it in-hand.
Overspending? Try the 30-day rule. If you want to make an unplanned purchase, set the money aside for 30 days, then revisit.
Delete your online payment info. The more effort it takes to shop online, the more likely you’ll be to pause and think about whether you truly want to buy it.
Sometimes it’s the right time for a “cash diet.” Commit to only making purchases in cash. You’ll likely spend less even on planned purchases like groceries.
Swap your credit card for a debit card: Research shows that consumers spend less when they see real money immediately leaving their bank account.
Buy store brands instead of name-brand products with the same ingredients. Tiny savings add up on frequent purchases.
Beware of BOGO “deals.” Slow down and consider the price of one item; often they are marked up to cover the cost of the discount.
The best rates on hotels sometimes come 15 days before you travel. Make a refundable reservation far in advance, and then check the rates again leading up to your trip.

Debt

Take inventory. Make a list of your debts, such as credit card bills, student and auto loans, and mortgages, and include the lender, balance, interest rate, payment date, and monthly payment amount. Then take action.
Consider using the debt snowball or avalanche methods to prioritize which debt to pay down first.
Try to avoid paying more in interest and fees. While consolidating debt can be a smart solution, doing so in a high interest rate environment might mean more dollars out of pocket now.
Pay off your high interest rate debt—such as credit card debt—first. You’ll save more by paying off credit card balances than you can realistically expect by investing those dollars in the stock market instead.
Take advantage of debt that works in your favor. Low-interest, installment loans like mortgages can help you build credit.
Don’t pay more than the minimum required for low-interest, fixed-rate loans. If your fixed rate loan is low enough, invest the extra dollars for a higher return.
Pay extra attention to variable interest rates to avoid fluctuating payments that are out of your control.
Considering a new debt? Practice paying for it. Set aside a monthly payment for a few months for insight into how a new financial expense will impact your finances.
A car payment doesn’t have to be an indefinite expense. Try to keep a 60 month loan or less.
Zero-percent interest car loans may mean the car price itself is marked up or there’s some other catch.
Beware of credit card rewards. Avoid spending more than you would typically spend just for the rewards.
Refinance. When your credit score goes up or your cash flow improves, you may be eligible for a better rate on your existing loans.

Credit

Not sure how to build good credit? Consider using a secured credit card, which requires payment upfront. Make sure to understand the fees.
Lean on family or friends to build your credit. Asking someone with strong credit to cosign for you can help you obtain a better rate.
Build better credit in a short amount of time when you are added as an authorized user on someone else’s account.
Take good care of your credit to be eligible for loans with more favorable rates. Pay bills on time and keep your outstanding balances low compared with your limits.
Remember that your credit score isn’t private. Think of it as a financial report card that can be shared.
When you open a credit card, use it responsibly. Charge at least one expense per month and pay it off in full if possible.
Carrying debt does not benefit your credit. Credit card interest compounds daily, working against you.
Set a reminder to check your credit report for free once a year with the three credit bureaus.
Dispute credit report errors. If there’s any incorrect information, contact the credit bureau directly.
Ask for a credit line increase. A good repayment history and higher credit score can warrant an increase.

Homebuying/Home ownership

Renting may be smarter—most homebuyers don’t break even for five years. If you expect to move sooner, consider renting instead.
When thinking about home-buying, cap your housing costs. Target a total monthly payment of no more than 28% of your gross monthly income towards a home.
Know what you have available for a down payment, and what you can afford monthly for your mortgage. Keep both in mind when trying to determine your price range.
Negotiate your interest rate, and shop around to save.
Do your research before making an offer. Look at comparable homes in the area that recently sold.
Understand PMI. It’s an additional monthly cost if you put less than 20% down.
Don’t overlook closing costs, which usually range between 3-5% of the purchase price.
Get pre-qualified and include it in your offer.
Build a home emergency fund for repairs and ongoing costs.

Taxes

Keep track of deductible expenses throughout the year.
Know the tax implications of different retirement accounts.
Consider investing into a 529 plan for your children’s education.
Save on childcare by contributing to a Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account.
Self employed? Tax professionals are a worthy investment.
A large tax refund isn’t necessarily something to celebrate; it typically means you overpaid the government.
Adjust your tax withholdings with your employer to keep more of it each paycheck.
Use tax software to simplify the filing process.
Keep copies of your tax returns for reference.
Make tax filing easier by collecting all tax related documents throughout the year.

BONUS: Holiday

Set and stick to a holiday season budget. Include gifts, travel, and decorations. Be specific.
Make a list of gift recipients and a spending limit per person.
Shop early to avoid rush delivery costs.
Book travel as soon as you can and be flexible for better deals.
Hosting doesn’t have to be expensive. Consider a pot-luck option.
Shop online to avoid impulse purchases.
Get creative with gifts—thoughtful gift giving doesn’t have to cost a lot.
Suggest a gift exchange to streamline giving.
Avoid (or limit) self-gifting to resist unneeded purchases.
Celebrate late for better travel deals.
Be selective with invitations and choose intimate gatherings.
Reflect on what worked this holiday season to commit to new financial goals.