1. No matter how hard you work, you still get the same amount of money as the week before.
It's easy when you're in high school and have no bills -- or even priorities, at that point -- and the last thing on your mind is how much money you will have at the end of the week. But when you actually have to pay bills almost every week, it gets tiring after a while, especially when you work all week long and still have no money to pay for things.
2. Weekly shopping sprees are not worth it in the end.
I wish I knew when I first got a paycheck that not all the things I wanted were what I needed at the time. It's so easy to just get the things you think are important, but in the end, I realized that it is a lot better to save your money for better uses in the end. When you're 17 and your days off seem to be spent at the nearest shopping mall, with your bank account filled enough to buy a few things, it is hard to not blow the entire paycheck in one day.
3. Your savings account can really save you when you need it.
Sometimes you barely even take time to put away a few bucks into your savings, but now I wish I started my savings sooner when I had less bills to pay. If I was able to have money in my savings for a long time without touching it, I'm sure it would have been very useful for me.
4. Budgeting your money is everything.
Make a plan for yourself to only spend a certain amount of money at a time. Have money set aside each week to pay bills, and maybe also set aside money to spend for yourself. It is a lot easier when you know your limits rather than getting in a bind each week because you're left with no money for yourself.
5. Do not get credit cards to boost your credit score.
Do not get credit cards whatsoever for yourself. As nice as it is to charge all your purchases on a card, in the end, it all comes back to bite you in the ass. Some people tell you to get a credit card to boost your credit, but in reality, it all just seems to ruin your credit score in the end -- especially at a young age, when you don't really understand the concept of saving money yet.
6. Actually think about what you spend your money on.
Do you actually need all new clothing, or the most expensive makeup out there? Probably not. When you learn to say no to the things you once thought were OK to buy, you'll start to see your money keep increasing each week because you chose to not spent it on dumb things you thought you needed in the moment. Simply thinking about what you need to buy really helps you out in the long run.
7. When making long-term purchases and taking out loans, really think through your future too.
Loans are definitely things to really put thought into because monthly payments add up fairly quickly when you only make so little at easy minimum wage jobs. Remember to set aside money at the beginning of the month so you don't get behind on the really important payments.
8. Take advantage of doing anything that increases your money intake.
When asked to work extra hours or pick up a shift on your day off, don't think twice. Any extra cent that you could make, take it, because you will always find a place to spend it or to use toward your bills... and anyway, those days off are probably spent spending money anyway.
9. It's not about spending your money on the top notch products and accessories.
When you're young you often only look at the value of things and not how long they will last you. Expensive designer things seem to always catch your eye and make you feel better and above everyone else. In reality, those items are just not really worth it anymore. Go for the product that is cheap and will last you for a long time instead of things that are only temporary. Just because an item isn't name-brand doesn't mean it is not worth the same.
10. Don't let money rule your life.
Money can be the center of your stress nowadays, but don't let money be your main concern. No matter what you do, money will not just magically come to you, nor will you wake up one day with your bank account filled with cash. So just take things one step at a time, and don't worry too much about money because you have a long time to do that when you're older.
