There are some financial mistakes people commit unknowingly. By the time they realize what has gone wrong, it could be too late. The article presents six of these common mistakes. Reckless spending When one has a credit card with a fairly large spending limit, one tends to spend recklessly without worrying about how they will pay the bill. Spending more than what one can afford and excessive spending for frivolous reasons is one of the major financial mistakes people commit. They then only pay the minimum dues leading to a situation where they pay high interests. If not stopped, this can go out of control and ruin one’s financial future. Too much of debt One of the common financial mistakes people make is getting into debt. When one takes too many loans, it creates a situation where the monthly interest payment becomes high. If income does not increase, then a situation can arise when expenses are more than the income. This can lead to a financial crisis. To solve it, one may take a loan and once again fall into a debt trap from which it could be difficult to recover. Using up your retirement funds Using funds that are earmarked for retirement or for other purposes like meeting a medical emergency or for a college education is a major financial mistake. By the time one retires, inflation could have made things costlier. A large amount is needed for living expenses after retirement so creating a sizeable retirement fund is crucial. When that retirement fund is used for something else, it leads to a situation where there is nothing left after retirement. Not having sufficient insurance Insurance is protection against risk. Not having sufficient insurance is a big financial mistake. When an emergency occurs, it can lead to serious financial problems. A fire or a critical illness can lead to big losses and a lot of money is needed to recoup from them. If insurance is available, then the money can have been used to tide over the crisis. It is not just about having insurance but about having sufficient coverage which is important. Not saving money for future Many people, especially young ones prefer spending their money and enjoying life. They do not worry about the future and the need to save money. By the time they realize the need for it, it is already too late. This is a common mistake with people in their late 30s and 40s when they realize their mistake and starting saving money. By then, it may be late and the money saved might not be sufficient for the future. Not making a financial plan Everyone needs to have a financial plan for the future. One’s financial goals, income and expenses, the amount that can be saved and investment options need to be planned in advance. Not having a plan is like getting into the sea without knowing how to swim. There are many financial mistakes that people commit. In most cases, they do it without knowing it is a mistake. These mistakes can create major problems for the future. One must avoid these mistakes to prevent financial problems.