There are basically 3 principals which should have been taught in high school to ensure you learn to control your money instead of your money controlling you. Master the use of these three principals, then you will be able to achieve your financial goals:

1. Understand how compounding interest works against you for any loan including credit cards and how compounding interest works for you for any savings and investments.
2. Understand the impact your credit history can have upon your life along with the impact upon #1.
3. Spend what you have to spend and need instead of what you have access to spend and want along with understanding the impact upon #1 and #2.

Additional ideas to also improve your financial success:

• Live below your means.
  • Spend the money you have to spend, not the money you have access to spend.
• Make your money work for you instead of against you. Learn to control your money instead of your money controlling you.
• Understand the value of money and learn not to waste it.
  • Establish a savings/investment goal. Pay yourself first as if you are a bill that must be paid.
  • Purchase what you need, not what you want. Look for and learn to recognize opportunities to earn extra money or save money instead of spending impulsively. Read newspapers, magazines, and advertisements to discover opportunities.
  • Look for opportunities to reduce your state and federal taxes. Learn ways for the IRS to pay you.
• Don’t pay someone to do something you can do yourself.
  • Eliminate or reduce convenience services such as washing your car, cleaning your home, mowing your lawn, and cooking your meals.
• Eliminate credit card debt.
  • Stop paying companies whose sole purpose is to profit from your demise.
• Stop or limit spending until credit card debt is under control.
  • Determine how the debt occurred and take steps to ensure it does not happen again.
• Build wealth by starting with a little which will eventually build to a lot.
  • Invest regularly to increase savings and for retirement. The earlier you invest, the less needed now than in the future to achieve the same goals.
• Use extra money received (such as taxes, inheritance, bonuses, and gifts) to your benefit by paying off debts or for investments.
• Reduce the amount of time spent watching TV.
  • Reduce the number of shows viewed or tape your favorite shows, then watch them fast forwarding through the commercials.
• Establish a goal and work towards achieving that goal.
• Don’t let the world pass you by. Get off your butt and do something to better yourself.
  • Learn a new skill and work towards constantly improving yourself.
• Don’t criticize the success of others, learn from their example.