Here we will take a look at some of the most common money mistakes that often lead people to major economic hardship.
Money Mistake 2: Never spend money you haven't received. Don't even promise someone money based on a promise you have from someone else. If someone tells you: "Ezra, come to my office tomorrow at 9am and pick #30K"don't go out to buy items on credit based on this promise, with the hope that you will pay off your creditor when the promised money comes; it may not come as promised and this will leave you in problems with your creditors.
Money Mistakes 3: If you want to save, whenever you receive money, don’t start spending hoping that you’ll save what remains. Normally what remains is zero because as long as money to spend is available, the numerous things you can spend it on are also available. And things to spend on even incite their 'relatives' so that you spend even more than you had planned.
When money to spend is not available, we naturally find a way of doing without it. That's why I've learnt to save with an INVESTMENT CLUB. Once I send money there I assume I no longer have it. Before you spend any money, put your savings aside then spend what is left after saving.
Money Mistake 4: When you get an opportunity to meet a very wealthy person, never ask for money. Ask for ideas on how to make money. They may even choose to give you money on their own after seeing that your ideas are great, but let getting money from them never be your objective.
Money Mistake 5: Keeping your seed instead of planting it. Many people stop at saving. It's very, very difficult to save and have all you need to maintain your lifestyle especially after retirement. When you save, your savings are seed; plant it. When you just keep the seed (saving money) some seeds begin to die (eaten by inflation and the like).
Money Mistake 6: Never lend someone money you are not willing to lose. By the time you lend someone money, be contented in your heart that should the person fail to pay, you will not die. You should not even lose that person's friendship if they fail to repay the money you lent them.
![]() |
| Common Money Mistakes To Avoid |
Money Mistake 7: Never append your signature to guarantee someone on a financial matter if you are not willing or able to pay the money on their behalf. Do I have to explain that one? No, it's self-explanatory.
Money Mistake 8: Avoid keeping money you don't intend to use in the short-term within easy reach. For instance, don’t walk with #100K in your pocket when all you plan to do in a day costs #20K. Like I mentioned in Money Mistake 3, there are always expenses available to gobble any money that is within reach, so if you don't want to lose it, put it away in a safe place.
Money Mistake 9: Avoid keeping money in inappropriate places e.g. in socks, under the pillow, in a pit, in the sitting room, in the bra, in a travel bag that you will place somewhere in a bus ... impulse buying is a devil that will keep you busy!
Money Mistake 10: Spending money on an item that you can do without (at least for the time being). These days when I pick money from my pocket or wallet, before paying for something I ask myself: What would happen if I didn’t buy this? If I find I can live with the consequences of not having that thing, I smile and walk away.
Money Mistake 11: Paying an amount for something that's not the minimum you can get that same value for. In other words, if you are along east Legon road and you pay #5K for a shoe that you can get at #3K at Makola market, that's a money mistake except for those who have achieved financial freedom.
Money Mistake 12: Consistently spending all you earn or more than you earn. It's like having a drum where you have an inlet that's smaller than the outlet. It will never get full. And should the inlet ever reduce significantly the drum will run dry. If you do it the other way round and the inlet is bigger, it will get full and even overflow. Hence, we have to always ensure we are widening the inlet while narrowing the outlet – all the time. Your side hustle comes in handy!
Money Mistake 13: Thinking about short-term only and forgetting about long-term or thinking about the long-term and forgetting about the short-term. For instance, Lydia was told that there's money inland. She saved money over a long period of time and bought 30 acres of land. Now she has the land but she is always broke. She is always complaining. She's disgruntled and she doesn't seem to see herself earning from the land in the near future.
Let’s take stock of our finances. How many mistakes are you guilty of? Do you now feel better-equipped to do better with these tips? Good luck, savers! Share this knowledge with your friends because it will not benefit you if you are selfish with it.
God bless you as you work on your financial prudence in the year 2020.
Welcome to Oudney Patsika's Website. Oudney Patsika is an award-winning Business Growth Consultant dedicated to helping you build a truly hyper-profitable business. Our mission is to provide in-depth, well-researched insights and strategies that go beyond the surface, enabling you to efficiently systemize operations, fully optimize resources, and scale your enterprise for significant growth.
Learn how to achieve these monumental results without working harder or spending unnecessary extra capital. Discover and implement strategic growth solutions that empower your business for maximum expansion. Unlock your business's full, untapped potential today.
Welcome to Oudney Patsika’s Blog: Getting Your Message Heard in a Noisy World. In today’s fast-paced, media-driven culture, your ideas and messages must be amplified to stand out and reach a larger audience. Oudney shares actionable insights and strategies designed to help communicators, entrepreneurs, and leaders make their voices heard, engage effectively, and influence their target communities.
Discover how to craft and deliver compelling content that resonates, cuts through distractions, and drives meaningful engagement. Learn to communicate your message powerfully and achieve measurable impact in your field.
