Don't Screw Up Your Life! - 11 Ways to Avoid Messing Your Life Up

As you move through your daily life, you'll find that almost everyone around you has screwed up big-time at least once. Perhaps they've had a child while they were single. Perhaps they've lost a perfect job because they were irresponsible. Perhaps they dug themselves into debt because they didn't pay as much attention as they should have to finances.

Or maybe, like me, they've done all of those things and more. You learn from these mistakes. But wouldn't it be easier to not make the mistakes to begin with?

1. Learn everything you can about finance. Don't get credit cards you can't pay off just because the sign-up offers are so attractive. If you're young and you have a credit card, trust me, you WILL use it. Never believe yourself when you say you won't!

Instead of signing up for credit cards because you need one for identification or booking hotel rooms, bank with an institution that offers Visa or Mastercard debit cards. These can be used just like credit cards, but do not cost you high fees or interest. Build your credit by buying a car and paying your regular rent and utility bills on time, not by taking out credit cards.

2. Put back savings, a minimum of 10% of everything you earn, from the first day you start making money. If you make enough to cover your living expenses and some entertainment expenses as well, save more than that, as much as you can.

If you allow your spending to match your income, trust me, you will find yourself in debt quickly; spending more money becomes a habit. But if you save your money and don't look at the account more than a couple times a year, your savings will grow more rapidly than you could ever have expected.

Once you have at least a thousand dollars in savings, talk to your bank about ways you can make more interest than a straight savings account.

3. Become independent of others as young as you possibly can - and don't make it your job to take care of others who should be taking care of themselves. While you may think you'll save money living with Mom and Dad, what you're really doing is putting off your inevitable growing-up time. Instead, work hard at your job and find ways to advance. If you can't advance in this job, start looking for another one where you have more opportunities.

The other half of this is never letting another person become dependent on you. This can't be helped if you have a disabled spouse or other family member, or young children. But don't get involved with an adult-aged person who can't or won't keep a job, or who has a substance abuse issue, or who seems to like to mooch off you. THEY WILL NOT CHANGE as long as you allow them to not take responsibility for themselves.

4. Learn to blame yourself for things that are your fault - and to not allow anyone to blame you for things that aren't. As soon as you figure out that an error or a mistake is your fault, confess and take whatever fallout ensues - even if that means going to jail or something equally drastic. Being responsible in this way is an enormous part of being an adult.

It's actually harder to make others quit blaming you for things that are not your fault. Never accept blame for something you did not do, or for something that you could truly not help. For example, if you have a mother who blames you for screwing up her life, remember - and remind her - that she is the one who chose to get pregnant. If you have a spouse who blames you for his substance abuse issue, give him an ultimatum or divorce him. Never, ever allow someone else to blame you for their troubles if you did not cause them. And if you did, take responsibility and make up for it - then expect it to go away.

5. Don't have unprotected sex - ever. Diseases, unwanted babies, and a lifetime of paying for a few moments of enhanced pleasure - need I say more?

6. Know the law, and follow it. Again, self-explanatory. If you think something may be illegal, don't do it until you find out for sure. Ignorance of the law is never an excuse, largely because following the law is almost always simply common sense.

7. Write down all your goals, and keep them somewhere you'll see them every day. Having goals gives your life direction. Writing down your goals, though, does something magical in your life; they come true. It could be that constantly reminding yourself of what you want helps you focus; it could be that remembering your goals daily keeps you aware of opportunities that would otherwise pass you by, or reminds you to seek out those opportunities in spare moments.

Whatever the magic is, it works. I am a writer today because I wrote down my goals. I married the man I wanted, I am living the life I wanted, and I know that I will achieve all the things I've dreamed of - and I truly believe it's because I learned through my written goals to have faith in myself. It's only a little thing to add to your life; try it.

8. Be picky about who your friends are - even if you think you really need friends. Do your friends have the habits you want to have? Or do they do things you consider destructive in order to have fun? Your friends - and you have complete power over who they are - are probably the best overall predictor of who you are going to be.

If you don't like what your current friends do, seek out friends that are positive for you. You'll find them in places you like to hang out - bookstores, libraries, social clubs, universities. Get away from those bad influences, and you will improve your life instantly.

9. Keep your options open. This means if you work at a pretty good job, be open to an even better job if the opportunity comes up. Don't scoff at things like serving in the Armed Forces - there may be opportunity there you have overlooked. Volunteer in your community to meet new people, who can give you new opportunities. If you're having trouble in college, drop out for a semester to get your act together, or take fewer classes. Never, never burn your bridges; keep the option of going back as open as possible.

10. Everything in moderation. You don't have to quit drinking altogether, or never have a steak, or exercise constantly in order to be healthy. You don't have to work 60-hour weeks to be successful. Instead, try to keep things balanced. Don't eat a steak every night, but allow yourself a thick juicy one once a month if you love them. Take a job that allows you to have some down time, not one that turns you into a wage slave. And don't become obsessed with another person, a sport, a game, a hobby.

11. If you are too stressed, if you're depressed, or if you think you might need psychiatric help - get help now. Even if you have to clean out your savings to do it. All mental illness makes you irrational, period. All the good work you've done - saving money, finding a great job, making sure you don't get mixed up with the wrong people - can be undone in just a month or so of uncontrolled mental illness. Don't be too ashamed or embarrassed to seek help.

http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifehack/10-simple-ways-to-save-yourself-from-messing-up-your-life.html