Three big mistakes Americans keep making with their money

Americans are having a much better time managing their money than they did a few years ago, but it turns out some bad habits are hard to break.

According to a new report, many people still struggle with key financial practices, such as saving for long-term goals or managing their debt loads, said Gerri Walsh, president of the FINRA Investor Education Foundation, which issued the report. The study polled more than 27,500 Americans across the country on the way they use credit, save for goals and make other financial decisions. The foundation conducts this study every three years.

Here’s a look at some of the major blunders consumers are still making when it comes to their finances. See how you stack up:

Costly mistakes with credit cards

When it comes to credit cards, 11 percent of consumers said they used them for a cash advance in 2015, almost unchanged from the 13 percent who did so in 2009. The advances, which typically incur high interest charges as soon as the advance is issued, can be pricier than regular credit card purchases, for which interest charges can be avoided.

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