4 mistakes youre making with your money

4 mistakes youre making with your moneyManaging money is a skill that you have to master over timeno one is born with it. And its one that can haunt the rest of your life if youre not careful when youre younger and just departureing out. If youre hoping to avoid some of the issues that can be most painful later on, there are steps you can take now to improve your money mastery. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) Lets take a look at 4 common mistakes you should get under control before they derail your financial future.1. Not saving enoughThis can be one of the hardest things to do if youre just starting your career and making your way through entry-level or low-seniority jobs. Saving is especially tough if you live in a big city or somewhere else with high living expenses. At the end of the month, there just may not be much left for a savings account, and its easy to say, laterIll do it later. But later comes up awfully fast, so save what y ou can and stick to a regular deposit schedule. These savings can be a lifesaver if you find yourself suddenly jobless, given that the average job hunt takes several months.2. Not investingAccording to a Bankrate survey, only 54% of Americans invest money. Among millennials, the numbers are even more dismal, at 18%. It may seem difficult to afford when youre living on a ramen noodle budget, but the reality is that the time to start is when youre youngyoull have time to build your portfolio and time is on your side, given that youll be better able to absorb market changes over time. You dont even have to dive into the stock marketyou can start with other kinds of funds. NerdWallet has a great how-to guide for beginning investors.3. Not negotiatingDont be shy about negotiating pay raises or a higher starting salary. Youve probably heard the old saying, you dont get what you dont ask for, and its absolutely true. If you go about the negotiating process in a smart and informed way, you really dont have anything to lose but you could be making more money (yknow, for investing and feeding that rainy day fund).4. Not controlling spendingLiving within ones means can be tricky in an age where your debit card can bring delicious takeout to your door with the ease of an app, or where a credit card makes it easy to ignore the actual spending thats going on. Creating a realistic budget and sticking to it is one of the best things you can to do prepare for your financial future. It can also help you build in ways to support your other healthy financial moves, like saving extra money and investing.Think of these as healthy habit-building steps. After all, you wouldnt expect to lose weight without implementing a diet or exercise plan. And again, although it can be very tempting to file financial steps under the Ill deal with it later heading, it increases the chances that youll never actually take the steps at all. You can start building your financial future with relatively small steps now, so why not make sure youre making your best possible effort?