Best Advice

[MarkBarbieri]

What's the best advice that you were ever given? Not what sounded good. Not what you already knew. What did someone tell you that really changed your life.

 

[Hercules10]

To duck.

 

[SDFgirl]

When I was around 20, my mom told me that, basically, I was self-centered and thought only of myself and I needed to get over it. It was true, but very hard to hear. However, I tried very hard to adjust my attitude, to start thinking of the feelings of others, and it changed my life. I get along with others much better now.

 

[DeluxePrincess]

When I graduated High School, I had no intentions of going to college. I worked in a doctor's office over the summer and was told that I could have a full time position with benefits by fall. I ran into my school guidance counselor at McDonald's on my lunch break. We ate together. She told me it was not too late to go to college. There was financial aid still available, etc., etc. She said it was great that I found a job, but would I be happy working there forever? I never really thought about "forever" before that. She actually brought over papers I needed to my house and spoke with my mom, etc. I decided to give college a try. Luckily, I lived very close to a local state college. At college, I met my DH. I achieved a teacher's certification. My life would be so different today without that bit of advice I received on my McDonald's lunch hour.

 

[Disney Doll]

When a man cheats on you, don't take him back.

"A leopard doesn't change his spots".

 

[edwardsfire]

Dont EVER take advice of any kind from poor people.

 

[karynnix]

Don't sweat the petty things...and don't pet the sweaty things.

 

[matthew&haleysmom]

During our pre-martial counseling, the pastor told us, "Marriage is never 50/50. I should be 100/100. However, there are days it needs to be 150/150."

 

[Tantor]

When I had my daughter.......

"follow through on everything you do and say"

and I have.....

 

[EthansMom]

Three different pieces of advice I read in personal finance magazines:

(1) Start contributing to a 401k as soon as you have your first "real" job.

(2) Increase your 401k contributions a little each time you get a raise.

(3) When you change jobs, roll your old 401k directly into an IRA to avoid fees and taxes.

I don't even want to think about where DH and I would be if we hadn't followed that advice.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

One year when DH and I were living in MA, we flew home to Louisiana for Thanksgiving. Well, on the flight down, we decided to splurge and see if we could rent a Mustang Convertible once we got into the airport. One was available and we took it. The weather was warm and pleasant and we drove with the top down to my family home.

When we got the house, my great aunt (who was in her 90's) was already there. She pulled me aside and told me. "You keep on doing things like that. Enjoy yourselves and enjoy each other's company. My T-- and I saved and scrimped and never did anything frivolous or fun so we could retire and do it all then. Well, you know my T-- passed two years after we retired. We didn't get to do all those things we'd planned to do together. You don't know what tomorrow will bring, so don't take the time with your DH for granted. Take advantage of every moment of your time together."

Her words changed my perspective on my marriage and my DH and our activities. I told the DH what my great-aunt had said and we've taken her words to heart and we live by them.

 

[loco4dis]

At about 18 my mom told me something her grandmother told her:

When you're young, you worry what everyone's saying about you.

When you're middle aged, you don't care what everyone's saying about you.

When you're old, you realize no one was saying anything about you at all.

I've never forgotten it. It always reminds me when I fall into that trap of worrying what others "might be thinking" about me or something I decide to do. I instantly remind myself: They're not thinking about me at all. They're too busy living their own lives!

 

[MarkBarbieri]

For me, it was when a friend's dad explained compounding to me. He told me that when I graduated college and started working, it would be very easy for me to invest $100 per month or to borrow $100 per month. He then graphed out how the investments or debts would grow over time. I was amazed that $100 a month could grow to more than $500,000 in savings or in debts.

The lesson didn't sink in right away. In my mid-20s when I was totally out of cash and had a negative net worth, I remembered that conversation. I realized that I'd been doing exactly what he warned me about. I wasn't going on a totally wild spending spree. I was just spending a little more money each month than I was making. After losing my job and being broke, I vowed to quit doing that.

Ever since, I've been careful to save at least 10% of my income each month. Over the last couple of decades, the difference has been as dramatic as he showed me. He died many years ago, but his lesson about the magic of compounding has helped me to financial security.

 

[luvsmickeymouse]

"Actions speak louder than words."

 

[LuvOrlando]

-

 

[mkingdomlvr]

At about 18 my mom told me something her grandmother told her:

When you're young, you worry what everyone's saying about you.

When you're middle aged, you don't care what everyone's saying about you.

When you're old, you realize no one was saying anything about you at all.

I've never forgotten it. It always reminds me when I fall into that trap of worrying what others "might be thinking" about me or something I decide to do. I instantly remind myself: They're not thinking about me at all. They're too busy living their own lives!

I like that!

When I "graduated" 8th grade, my uncle wrote this on my card:

"A good beginning with much more to come. Never be afraid to set your goals high, then work hard to achieve them." All these years later, I still have that card and every time I start to get lazy about something, I read it again.

Our Pastor tells us often "Don't worry yourself out of a good night's sleep. Whatever it is-Give it to God, He's bigger, stronger and needs less sleep than you do"

 

[Narnian_Princess]

I have two, both of which have been revelations to me this past year. All of these are from someone I consider basically a mentor.

"Who's stopping you?" In regards to going to the college I want to go to, getting the job I want, and working toward my future, not someone else's vision of my future.

and

"Of course you are valuable." Stupid as it seems, I never really believed it until that point.

Thanks to this person, I've begun to let go of my insecurities and start realizing the person I am and am meant to be.

 

[Planogirl]

Mine is "be fair to everyone including yourself". It helps me a lot sometimes.

 

[doxdogy]

A friend's mother once told me that when you get ready to get married ask yourself a simple question. Not only do you love him, but do you like him too?

 

[Michelle67]

My mother told me "never lend anything you aren't willing, or couldn't afford, to lose."