If I could go back in time, I would do certain things differently. I’m not saying I have a lot of regrets. But when I was younger, I tended to have myopic vision. For instance, it was hard to imagine that one day I would be older. Even today, sometimes I look in the mirror and wonder, who the hell is that?

I wish that, when I was younger, someone had sat me down and told me a few things. Or else I wish that I’d listened when someone attempted to do this.

If you’re young, take a seat and listen up. These gems will help you on your quest for financial succes

8. Be prepared for the unexpected.

Someday you may lose a job through no fault of your own. Prepare today by stashing money into an accessible emergency fund. The easiest way to do this is to automatically divert a portion of your earnings into a savings account in addition to the amount you’re contributing to a 401(k) plan or IRA.

Try not to use that 401(k) money for emergencies. It will cost you plenty, between income and penalty taxes. For instance, if you have $10,000 in your account and you’re in the 25-percent tax bracket, you’ll lose $2,500 to taxes, plus pay another $1,000 penalty for breaking into the money before you reach age 55. (For IRAs, the early withdrawal penalty applies up to age 59 1/2, with certain exceptions.) Bottom line: Your $10,000 dwindles to $6,500. Worse, you will have lost the opportunity for that money to compound and build wealth for your retirement.

But don’t leave that money behind with the former employer either, lest you lose track of it. Instead, in a trustee-to-trustee transfer, roll it over into your new employer’s plan or into a rollover IRA.

9. Learn about investing or hire help.

It’s not rocket science; in the beginning you just need to overcome fear and select one or two good, cheap mutual funds. Ask the human resources department for help with that. After you’ve amassed some wealth, it may be time to hire someone. If you do, you will obviously have to pay for the service. Get referrals and then check out the qualifications and credentials of a prospective financial adviser or broker.

Make sure you understand the fee structure of the services. Is it commission-based or do you pay an hourly fee or a percentage of assets or some combination of these fees? Ask for a complete breakdown. Also, check with the appropriate authority to see if any disciplinary actions have been taken against a certified financial planner or broker before you initiate contact. The Financial Planning Association website is a good starting point to search for a qualified planner.

10. Be thankful for your good fortune.

It’s not all about money. If you work at it, you will have abundance — through strong family ties and solid relationships as well as monetary assets. Take some time out each day to reflect on the good in your life. Spend at least one day a week in a recreational activity or hobby that you enjoy, and take a minimum one-week vacation annually if you possibly can. My aunt Genie advises that you travel throughout your life, rather than waiting for retirement to do it. Again, save for the trip.

If you have children, spend as much time as you can with them when they’re still young and dependent on you. Before you know it, they’ll be old enough to get a driver’s license, and you’ll see less and less of them from that point on.

If I could go back in time, I would do certain things differently. I’m not saying I have a lot of regrets. But when I was younger, I tended to have myopic vision. For instance, it was hard to imagine that one day I would be older. Even today, sometimes I look in the mirror and wonder, who the hell is that?

I wish that, when I was younger, someone had sat me down and told me a few things. Or else I wish that I’d listened when someone attempted to do this.

If you’re young, take a seat and listen up. These gems will help you on your quest for financial succes

4. Place a value on money.

It doesn’t buy happiness, but it can certainly make you comfortable. Just understand what it’s worth. Money is what you earn in exchange for your time in some productive pursuit. Let’s say you earn $20 an hour at your job, and you’re considering purchasing a TV for $500. You may calculate that you spend 25 hours, or about three days, earning that money. It’s worth it, you may think. But that’s not an accurate value estimate. If you’re single, you’re in the 25-percent tax bracket, so you actually spend about 33 hours earning the net income required to make the purchase. It still may be worth it, but there may be competing demands for that money, such as rent and car payments, not to mention your retirement fund. Each purchase represents a trade-off. Make these decisions wisely.

5. Use the credit card sparingly.

This tip is also really vital. Bankrate receives tons of letters from strapped consumers who regretfully overused their credit cards and now find themselves in really dire financial situations, some contemplating bankruptcy. It’s easy to spend now with plastic and much harder to pay later. Use credit responsibly. Comparison shop for your card. Remember that you’ll be relying on your future earnings to pay for today’s credit card purchases. And if you keep a running balance, you’ll also be paying interest, sometimes at usurious rates. Don’t fall into this trap. Instead: Save money to meet financial goals.

6. Follow the golden rule.

Contrary to popular belief, the duplicity and craftiness of Machiavellian tactics won’t really help you survive, but instead will engender mistrust in your relationships. Treat others fairly, the way you wish to be treated. No one looks good when trying to make others look bad. When you’re on the job, avoid gossip. Beware that when someone takes you into his or her confidence to point out someone else’s foibles, it’s only a matter of time before your foibles come to light. Always be honest in your dealings with others. Seek out the company of people who are positive and supportive of your efforts.

7. Select your partner wisely.

Choose someone whose values match your own — not just where money is concerned, but more importantly, ethical and moral values. Get to know your soul mate over the course of at least a year. Passion is important, but trust more so. Make sure you are free to be yourself. If you hook up with an angry or overly critical partner, you will be subjected to hostility and may lose your sense of self. Conversely, if you’re the one with anger issues, resolve them before they poison a perfectly good relationship.

For most of us, it’s tough not to spend extra money when we get it. Maybe you switched jobs and got a significant raise, or enjoyed a nice year-end bonus last winter. You decided you could finally afford a nicer car, even though your current car worked just fine. Or you treated yourself to a lavish vacation that you normally wouldn’t have taken.

This is lifestyle inflation, and it occurs when you start upgrading your lifestyle with your income — even though your current solution works.

The Problem With Lifestyle Inflation

Some amount of extra spending is inevitable when you start making more money. Perhaps you rented a studio apartment as a young professional. If you’re now married with a baby or two, living in a studio apartment can seriously affect your happiness and quality of life. You need a larger space!

But if your spending rate climbs faster than your savings rate, you might end up feeling trapped in your own lifestyle. With a small savings rate, you’ll be vulnerable for whatever financial hardships come your way.

Though we never want it to happen, we will face job losses, illness, car accidents, and other unexpected financial emergencies. Avoiding lifestyle inflation means you’ll have more set aside for them when they happen.

Instead of riding a rollercoaster of financial worry, you’ll be in a better place to handle financial setbacks. To avoid the temptation to spend all that you earn, use these tips to avoid lifestyle inflation.

Save Half Your Raise

The easiest money to save is money you’re not used to spending. Avoid excessive lifestyle inflation by taking your next raise and putting half of it towards savings. You’ll still get to spend a little, which allows you to enjoy today while still being mindful of your future.

In fact, researchers Richard Thaylor and Shlomo Benartzi designed a 401K contribution plan to do exactly this, and with 28 months, the average savings rates of plan participants tripled from 3.5 percent to 11.5 percent.

Pay Yourself First

To help yourself stick to the plan to save half your raise (or half of bonuses and other windfalls), set aside that money first — even before paying any bills. You can’t spend if it’s already out of reach.

There are a lot of ways to do this. If you’re paying down debt, pay off certain amount of debt as soon as your paycheck clears. If you’re saving for retirement, bump up your 401(k) withdrawal so the money never reaches your paycheck. If you are building up your emergency fund, set up an automatic withdrawal and put the money in a savings account that’s a bit more difficult to access.

Don’t Equate Success With Material Things

It’s all too easy to dream of a fancy car, nice wardrobe or HGTV-worthy house. But be careful about an endless quest for material items. Eventually, the novelty will wear off. This aspect of our spending is called hedonic adaptation, and we all do it.

Instead of obsessing over new stuff, think about your family, friends and all those other things that bring us joy. If you want to spend the extra money, think about spending it on experiences. If you’re going to buy a material item, buy something that can allow you to invest in relationships and experience — as an example, perhaps that’s camping gear that allows your family to spend time together.

Take a moment to make sure you’re spending money on things you’ll find valuable both now and in the future.

Find the Right Friends

If you want to put more in savings, it’s certainly easier if you never feel the desire to spend a great deal of money in the first place. That’s why it’s important to surround yourself with savvy, frugal, investment minded friends.

We all like to fit in. You won’t feel like you’re missing out on the nice car and expensive house if your social circle lives modestly just like you do.

As you earn those pay raises over the years, it’s nice to be able to live a better lifestyle. But considering taking steps to avoid excessive lifestyle inflation. You’ll set aside the money before you even feel it, so you can enjoy your life now and still save for your future.