Some employers match contributions to certain organizations. This is an additional and free impact.  Many times it is as simple as providing the name or the organization, amount and a copy of the receipt. Literally, it can take less than 5 minutes to double your impact. 

Set up an automatic transfer on payday [to build your emergency fund].  This basically makes saving easy and natural, just like breathing.

Diversification is your best defense regardless of your risk tolerance. Don’t put all of eggs in one basket, whether it is a fund, a stock or a bond. Use a mix of investment to smooth returns as it spreads risk across different investments to keep your portfolio balanced while still enabling you to take advantage of investment growth!

If you drive for Uber or Door Dash or similar type company using your car, you likely are going to need a rideshare or equivalent endorsement, which is an addition to your policy.  Note, based on experiences, some insurers will not provide this coverage. And if you don’t get the coverage, it can be very costly to you by leaving you personally responsible for damages and repairs, a costly mistake that could total more than your just your car!

Withdrawals for non-medical expenses before age 65 are taxed as income plus a 20% penalty. However, after age 65, such expenses are taxed as income only with no penalty!

When you send in extra payments, always tell your lender to apply it to principal only, not next month’s payment. Otherwise, they might just push your due date forward without reducing what you owe!

Safe harbor IRS tax withholding rules do exist to avoid an estimated-tax penalty.  You can avoid a penalty if you 1) owe less than $1,000 after credits and withholdings; OR 2) meet a safe harbor if in the current year you paid a) at least 90% of the current year tax you owe; OR b) at least 100% of last year’s tax liability. Note that if your adjusted gross income is $150,000 ($75,000 for married filing separately), the safe harbor noted in b) relating to last year’s tax liability rises to 110%!

Set a reminder to check your investments quarterly. Use internet tools for your brokerage’s dashboard to take a look at performance vs. benchmarks, asset allocation balances vs. targets and fees and dividends!

The easiest way to inventory your belongings in case of a loss: take photos or a video and put this in a safe place.  Don’t forget to update this from time-to-time!

Compare your current paycheck to the previous one [for any differences and absence of expected differences]. If you only have time to do one thing each pay period, this is it!

Lenders and lessors are in the business of approving loans or applications, not protecting your budget. Just because they say yes doesn’t mean it’s a good idea, especially if it starves your savings goals or your lifestyle!

Finance companies have been known to set the residual value, or the expected worth of the vehicle at the end of the lease, higher resulting in a lower monthly lease payment and creating a lease-end trap if you're not careful. Before buying a leased car, check the market value of the vehicle. Compare it to the residual value. If the market price is lower, negotiate or walk away! 

Use less than 30% of your credit limit [of your credit card]. Lenders love that and your credit score will go boing!

You actually pay taxes not once, but twice when you borrow from your 401(k). I don’t know about you, but I don’t like paying taxes in the first place, but I have to; but paying them twice, I don’t have to.  Repayments are made with after-tax dollars. Then in retirement, when you withdraw that money? You get taxed again. Yep, same money, taxed twice!

Your 401(k) doesn’t count as an asset when applying for loans, and pulling money out early comes with penalties!

Social Security alone likely will not cut it [support you in retirement]!

Your rent usually doesn't affect your credit score unless your landlord decides to report it. So, paying rent usually doesn't boost your score, but missing it might ding it!