15 money tips you should ignore

Everyone has an opinion on how you should handle your money, but you’d be better off ignoring these 15 tips.

Not all money advice is helpful. Some so-called tips could even set you up for financial failure. U.S. News spoke to five finance experts and asked them which money tips they think people are better off ignoring. Here’s what they said.

You should always go for the highest return. Of course you want to make the most money possible off your investments, but going for the highest return isn’t always a smart strategy. “It may not necessarily suit your goals,” says Michelle Hutchison, money expert for personal finance site Finder.com. The risk on these investments may be too high, or they could come with significant fees.

A home is always a good investment. Several experts pointed to the notion that buying is better than renting as a bit of money wisdom everyone should ignore. “People think ‘if I rent, I’m a loser,'” says David Schneider, a certified financial planner at Schneider Wealth Strategies in New York City. On the contrary, renting can save money in the long run, says Pete Lang, an investment advisor and founder of Lang Capital in Hilton Head, South Carolina. Homes come with steep transaction costs and maintenance expenses. Plus, there is no guarantee they will appreciate in value.

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