Ignore All This Financial Advice Your Parents Taught You

Your parents' advice when it comes to personal finances probably reflects wisdom from a simpler era. Money doesn't hold up in today's inflation- and debt-ridden landscape. If you don't turn to your parents for financial advice these days, you may have learned from the past. Some of the most common money-related teachings your parents may have passed on to you should only be taken with a large pinch of salt.

“Buying is always better than renting.”

Homeownership is the ultimate, unexamined goal for a lot of people. Buying a home is not the same as it used to be.

It is not one-size-fits-all when it comes to buying or renting. The New York Times has an interactive calculator that can be used to determine if you should rent or buy a home.

If you know you want to buy a home, here are the things you need to know.

“You’ll always have a car payment.”

It feels like an accepted fact of life, even though it isn't from our parents. It shouldn't be. Buying used or realizing that you can stick with the same ride for a few more years instead of trading up for a shinier model are two ways to override this advice.

It's a good thing that now is a bad time to buy a car. It is important to research ahead of time and make a decision when it is time to make a decision. The dealership can't fool you by focusing on monthly payments instead of interest rates if you know what your loan terms are. By the time you return, your car will most likely have been sold to someone else, so you need to know before you leave.

“Never use a credit card because you’ll end up in debt.”

It is possible that your parent instilled in you a fear of credit cards. Using credit cards doesn't mean going into debt. If you pay off your credit card in full at the end of each month, you'll be able to build your credit score. If you have credit card anxiety because of your upbringing, you can break free by using a credit card to make small purchases.

“You have to stay at your job for at least two years.”

Older generations were able to stay at the same company for a long time, but younger generations aren't as lucky. It is still important to unlearn this advice for the sake of your bank account. Candidates with bounce around jobs are no longer viewed with suspicion and you aren't being rewarded for your job loyalty. It's the fastest way to make a lot of money. There is more career advice you should ignore.

“Never talk about money.”

Money talk was taboo. The pendulum is moving towards transparency. It is possible to understand whether or not you are being paid what you deserve when you talk about money. Increased openness about money can help you stay out of debt. We can learn a lot about debt, savings, and budgeting from talking about money.

At the end of the day, your parents want what's best for you, but you're in a different financial reality than they were in the past. To unlearn their approach to money, you need to be aware of what isn't practical these days.