12 money rules to live by

One-size-fits-all financial advice isn’t supposed to work. We’re all as unique as snowflakes, so the financial rules that guide us should be molded to our individual situations.

Except it turns out that rules of thumb can be really helpful.

A study of West Point cadets, for example, found teaching rules of thumb was at least as effective as standard personal finance training in increasing students’ knowledge and confidence as well as their willingness to take financial risks. Researchers found money rules of thumb actually were more effective than teaching accounting principles to small-business owners in the Dominican Republic.

Besides, we all have busy lives — sometimes, we just want an answer. If you’re tired of the “on the one hand this, on the other hand that” approach to financial advice, check out these guidelines I’ve collected over the years. Perhaps you’ll find some one-size-fits-all advice that suits you.

1. Car buying: Buy used and drive it for 10 years

New cars are lovely, but they’re expensive and lose an astonishing amount of value in their first two years. Let someone else pay for that depreciation and take advantage of the fact that today’s better-built cars can run well for at least a decade if properly maintained. You can save hundreds of thousands of dollars over your driving lifetime this way.

2. Car loans: If you have to borrow, use the 20/4/10 rule

Ideally, you wouldn’t borrow money to buy an asset that loses value, but you may not always be able to pay cash for a car. If you can’t, protect yourself from overspending by putting 20% down, limiting the loan to four years and capping your monthly payment at no more than 10% of your gross income. A big down payment keeps you from being “underwater,” or owing more on the car than it’s worth, as soon as you drive off the lot. Limiting the length of the loan helps you build equity faster and reduces the overall interest you pay. Finally, capping the size of the payments prevents your car from eating your budget.

3. Save for college

Retirement saving is more important, but get in the habit of putting at least $25 a month aside for college soon as your child is born. Your kids can always get student loans, but as you’ve probably heard, no one will lend you money for retirement. Your children will not thank you if the price for their education is your having to move in with them because you’re 70 and broke. The good news is that even small contributions to a 529 college savings plan can add up over time. “Starting early can mean the difference between choosing the college that is right for your child as opposed to the one that offers the best financial aid package,” says Joe Hurley, founder of SavingForCollege.com.

4. Credit cards

If you carry a balance, look for a low-rate card to help you pay off your debt. If you pay in full each month (as you should), find a rewards card that returns at least 1.5% of what you spend. Don’t mess with rewards cards if you’re dragging around credit card debt. Focus on paying it off fast with a low-rate card. If you pay in full, though, you should regularly review your rewards programs to make sure you’re getting enough value from them. The programs can change, as can your spending and the way you use rewards. “Even if you don’t want to ‘play the game’ and manage a complicated wallet, there’s no excuse for earning less than 1.5% back for all of your purchases,” says NerdWallet credit card expert Sean McQuay.

5. Emergency savings

You need to be able to get your hands on cash or credit equal to three months’ worth of expenses. The classic emergency fund advice — that you need three to six months of expenses saved — is great, but it can take years to save that much and you have other priorities that are more important (see “retirement,” below). While you build up your cash stash, make sure you have a Plan B. That could be money in a Roth IRA (you can pull out your contributions at any time without paying taxes or penalties), space on your credit cards or an unused home equity line of credit.

6. Insurance

Cover yourself for catastrophic expenses, not the stuff you can pay out of pocket. Insurance should protect you against the big things — unexpected expenses that could wipe you out financially, such as your home burning down or a car accident that triggers a lawsuit. You want high limits on your policies, but high deductibles, too. “Making a series of small claims doesn’t make financial sense in the long run. You may gain some small insurance payments, but you risk a rate increase that could more than cancel out your gains,” says NerdWallet insurance expert Amy Danise.

7. Mortgage amount

If you can’t afford the payment on a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage, you can’t afford the house. You may be able to save money by using another kind of mortgage, such as a hybrid loan that offers a lower initial rate. But if you’re using an alternative loan because that’s the only way you can buy the home you want, you may have set your sights too high. A budget-busting mortgage puts you at risk of spiraling into ever-deeper debt, especially when you add in all the other costs of homeownership.

8. Mortgage rates

Fix the rate for at least as long as you plan to be in the home. Plans can change, obviously, but you don’t want a big payment jump to force you out of a home you hoped to live in for years to come. If you’re pretty sure you’ll be moving in five years, a five-year hybrid could be a good option. If you think you may stay for 10 years or more, though, consider opting for the certainty of a 30-year fixed rate. (Compare rates on different types of mortgages.)

9. Mortgage prepayments

You have better things to do with your money than prepay a low-rate, potentially tax-deductible mortgage. Shaving years off your mortgage and saving money on interest sounds great. But before you consider making extra payments to reduce your mortgage principal, make sure more important priorities are covered. You should be saving enough for retirement, for one thing, and have paid off all other debt, since most other loans have higher rates and the interest isn’t deductible. It would be smart to have that emergency fund built up as well and to be adequately insured. If you’ve covered all of those bases and still want to pay down your mortgage, have at it.

10. Retirement: Save 15%

If you got a late start or want to retire early, you may need to save more. Run the numbers on your retirement plan. For most people, 15% including any company match is a good place to start. Even if you can’t save as much as you should, start somewhere and kick up your savings rate regularly. Retirement should be your top financial priority, by the way. You can’t get back lost company matches, lost tax breaks and the lost years where your money isn’t earning tax-deferred returns.

11. Retirement, Part II

Leave retirement money for retirement. When your retirement fund is small, you may feel like spending it doesn’t really matter. It does. Taxes and penalties will cost you at least 25% and likely more of what you withdraw. Plus, every $1 you take out costs you $10 to $20 in lost future retirement income. Once your retirement fund is larger, it may be easy to convince yourself there are good reasons to borrow or withdraw the money. There really aren’t. Leave the money alone so it’s there for you when you need it.

12. Student loans

Your total borrowing shouldn’t exceed what you expect to make your first year out of school. At today’s interest rates, this will ensure that you can pay off what you owe within 10 years while keeping payments below 10% of your income, which is considered an affordable repayment rate, says financial aid expert Mark Kantrowitz, author of “Twisdoms about Paying for College.” What if you didn’t limit your borrowing and are now struggling? You have options. “If you have an overwhelming federal loan balance, income-driven repayment plans are there for you,” says NerdWallet student loan expert Brianna McGurran. “It’s tempting to want to hide from your debt or be ashamed of it, but you’re better off looking into the repayment options that are out there. You’ll see there are ways to find relief.”

Liz Weston is a columnist at NerdWallet, a personal finance website, and author of “Your Credit Score.” Email: lweston@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @lizweston. This article first appeared at NerdWallet.