I was sitting around thinking (not again) and I realized that I’ve really short changed myself in the past.  Not so bad that I haven’t recovered from it (to some extent), but enough that I could have made things a bit easier on myself.  Jonathon at MymoneyBlog had a good post about mistakes, and so did MyOpenWallet.  I think it’s a fact of life that we all make mistakes.  I’m certainly no different.  Here goes:

-Purchased a brand new Acura.  Ouch (and then sold it a year later)

-Bought Commerce One years ago and rode it to 0. (Could have been worse)

-Kept too much stock in my company after the IPO and then rode it waaaaay down.  (Made some money, but only 10% of what I could have.  Think diversification)

-Learned all about compound interest and the rule of 72 when I was 18 and then proceeded not to do a damn thing about it for 10 years.  Knowing something, and actually acting on it, are two entirely different things.  (Yeah.  Duh)

-Didn’t start my 401k at my current company for 6 months after I started.  (And I’m vested in their portion from day one.  Lost that match)

-Drove cars for a couple years and then traded them in.  (HUGE financial hit)

-Ate dinner out at least 4 times per week for dinner, and every lunch.  (And I suppose I shouldn’t forget the coffee and pastry in the morning)

Well, the good thing about reflecting and acknowledging mistakes is that it helps you from repeating them later.  (In theory).  I do feel some good fortune that I figured these things out in my late twenties and early thirties.  It’s given me a chance to catch myself up.  So, have you made any doozies that you aren’t so proud of?