When I bought my first home, I was hit with an avalanche of advice. Everyone—from the neighbor down the street to my uncle who hadn’t touched a toolbox in years—had an opinion on what I had to do to keep my home in shape.

I’ll never forget the first time I almost fell for a scam. I was sipping coffee, casually checking emails, when one popped up saying I’d won a lottery. A big one. All I had to do was send over my bank info to “verify my identity.” I stared at that message for a good minute, torn between excitement and suspicion.

I used to think credit was something mysterious—like an exclusive club where only accountants, bankers, or spreadsheet wizards truly belonged. Meanwhile, the rest of us just hoped our scores were “good enough” while silently dreading what might show up on our reports.

Retirement planning is one of those long-haul projects you don’t realize the weight of until you hit your 40s or 50s. By then, you’re not just daydreaming about the future—you’re staring at it on the horizon. I’ve seen friends, colleagues, and even myself stumble into common mistakes during these years, often because life’s responsibilities—kids, mortgages, aging parents—demand so much of our attention. The good news? By identifying the traps early, you can sidestep them and set yourself up for a more secure, comfortable retirement.