Taxes are the part everyone forgets about. Whatever you're planning, factor in what you'll owe Uncle Sam. Talk to an accountant — a good one saves you more than they charge. H&R Block is fine for simple stuff but get a real CPA if it's complicated.

Don't make a big financial decision when you're stressed or excited. Sleep on it. The dealership, the realtor, the salesman all want you to decide RIGHT NOW because pressure works in their favor. Walking away is always an option.

Pay off your highest-interest debt first — that's almost always credit cards at 18-22%. There's no investment that reliably beats paying off an 18% credit card. It's a guaranteed return. Knock that out before you even think about the stock market.

Talk to a fee-only financial advisor, not one who earns commissions on products they sell you. The commission-based advisors have an incentive to recommend products that benefit them, not you. A fee-only advisor charges a flat rate.

Be very skeptical of anything that promises high returns with no risk. If it sounds too good to be true, it is. The dot-com bust should have taught everyone that lesson. Slow and boring index funds beat hot stock tips over the long run.

Make a budget and actually stick to it. Boring advice, I know, but it works. The envelope method helped my family — cash in labeled envelopes for groceries, gas, fun money. When the envelope is empty, you're done spending in that category.

The biggest financial mistake I see people make is not having an emergency fund. Before investing, before paying extra on debt, save 3-6 months of expenses in a savings account. This protects you from going into debt when unexpected things happen.