We got a resounding response to our first “Crowdsourcing” question asking you about the best financial advice you ever received. Themes that showed up repeatedly: Pay yourself first. Invest early and often. Live within your means. Parents (particularly dads) and first bosses were often cited as the source of the advice, but so were other inspirational figures. (Note that all comments appear here with the names supplied online.)
"If you can’t pay cash, you can’t afford it!"
— Matthew
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just $107.88 $24.99, plus get up to 4 Special Issues
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
"Keep investing costs low. Higher costs over a lifetime will kill you."
— Tim Anderson
"My high school business teacher showed us that you don’t actually have to take on hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt to get a good education. I’m definitely remembering that this year as I pick a college."
— Megan Billing
"A quote from Albert Einstein: 'Compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world. He who understands it, earns it. He who doesn’t pays it.'"
— James Trimble
"My dad told me about Social Security when I was a teenager. It went something like this: Social Security was designed so that some poor shmo who worked all his life and couldn’t save a dime could still put beans on the table. If, when you’re retired, you want to be able to take vacations, visit your family, own a house or go out to a nice meal, you’d better have something more than Social Security."
— Bob Sizoo
"My father was an accountant. He taught me that all credit isn’t bad—that as long as I was making more in interest than I was paying out in interest, I should just pay the minimum due on the loans."
— tgrilli
"A crow shouldn’t fly like a swan. Translation: Know your limits and live within your boundaries."
— Atul Bhankharia
"Appreciate relationships and experiences more than things."
— SCsunshine
"From Malachi 3:10 (paraphrased): Give the Lord His 10% and He will pour out a great blessing. I know because 87 years ago I was born into a sharecropper’s family. I just completed a charitable remainder unitrust for almost $3 million to provide lifetime payments to members of my family. At their passing, their part will be transferred to a donor-advised fund that will total almost $6 million to fund our Jewish and Christian charities in perpetuity."
— Jim Storey
“'Big hat, no cattle' comes to mind. I’ve always wanted the cattle."
— Jill Hurley
"From my dad: Don’t depend on a man to support you. Learn to support yourself."
— kcgauss
"I love John Wesley’s sage advice from more than 250 years ago: 'Earn all you can, give all you can, save all you can.' I have found that a solid, consistent savings plan brings peace of mind, and a solid, consistent giving plan brings a richness to life that money can’t buy. "
— Jill Gaynor
Learn from your investment mistakes. Consider any loss to be an educational expense."
— Adam Weisman
MORE CROWDSOURCING: How Can a Dual-Income Couple Merge Their Finances While Still Maintaining Financial Independence?
-
Could an Annuity Be Your Retirement Safety Net?More people are considering annuities to achieve tax-deferred growth and guaranteed income, but deciding if they are right for you depends on these key factors.
-
Older Taxpayers: Don't Miss This Hefty (Temporary) Tax BreakIf you're age 65 or older, you can claim a "bonus" tax deduction of up to $6,000 through 2028 that can be stacked on top of other deductions.
-
JPMorgan's Drop Drags on the Dow: Stock Market TodaySmall-cap stocks outperformed Tuesday on expectations that the Fed will cut interest rates on Wednesday.
-
Amazon Resale: Where Amazon Prime Returns Become Your Online BargainsFeature Amazon Resale products may have some imperfections, but that often leads to wildly discounted prices.
-
Roth IRA Contribution Limits for 2026Roth IRAs Roth IRAs allow you to save for retirement with after-tax dollars while you're working, and then withdraw those contributions and earnings tax-free when you retire. Here's a look at 2026 limits and income-based phaseouts.
-
Four Tips for Renting Out Your Home on Airbnbreal estate Here's what you should know before listing your home on Airbnb.
-
Five Ways to a Cheap Last-Minute VacationTravel It is possible to pull off a cheap last-minute vacation. Here are some tips to make it happen.
-
How Much Life Insurance Do You Need?insurance When assessing how much life insurance you need, take a systematic approach instead of relying on rules of thumb.
-
When Does Amazon Prime Day End in October? Everything We Know, Plus the Best Deals on Samsonite, Samsung and MoreAmazon Prime The Amazon Prime Big Deal Days sale ends soon. Here are the key details you need to know, plus some of our favorite deals members can shop before it's over.
-
How to Shop for Life Insurance in 3 Easy Stepsinsurance Shopping for life insurance? You may be able to estimate how much you need online, but that's just the start of your search.
-
Five Ways to Shop for a Low Mortgage RateBecoming a Homeowner Mortgage rates are high this year, but you can still find an affordable loan with these tips.
