9 Ways to Go Broke in 2013
Chances are pretty good that you’ve set some type of financial goal for 2013. And we want to help you get there—which involves knowing what not to do as much as knowing what to do.

So if you want to make it happen with your money in 2013, make sure you don’t do the following things—they’re sure to make you broke.

1. Just wing it.

This is the opposite of making a plan. If Dave Ramsey had an evil twin brother, “just wing it” might be his catch phrase. You can’t just wing it with your money. You have to make a plan—including a budget—that includes all your short-term and long-term financial goals. If you want to make a plan but you’re not sure where to start, download the all-new Dave Ramsey's Guide to Budgeting for free now.

2. Wait until 2014.

If, while thinking about your goals for the year, you said something like, “This just isn’t a good year to try and get out of debt,” then you’ve already set yourself up for failure. Now is the time. This is the year. Unless you just enjoy stress and debt, no more procrastinating.

 
3. Expect the government to help you.

If you’re waiting around on the folks in Washington, D.C., to change your life, then you had better settle in and get comfortable—it’s going to be a while. Remember, they just passed the decision to take more of your money! The better plan is to take charge of your own life. The bucks (pun intended) stop and start with you. You are in charge of you.

4. Make excuses.

When we mess up with money, we sometimes tend to think we are the exception—that if people really understood our situation, they would know that a car lease or an adjustable rate mortgage or a pile of student loans is okay. Everyone goes through rough spots in life, but that’s no reason to let go of common sense and create more stress and heartache for yourself in the long run.

5. Use payment plans.

If you want to win with money, you need to take “payment plans” out of your vocabulary. Successful people don’t finance their couches. Or their dining room tables. Or even their cars. If you have to put it on a payment plan, you can’t afford it. As the old saying goes, “Broke people ask, ‘How much per month?’ and rich people ask, ‘How much?’”

6. Buy every “updated” version of all the hot products.

At some point, we’ve decided that having a nice phone or a nice computer or a nice TV isn’t enough. We must have the newest, nicest version of everything. We’ve become entitled. That’s why some companies release a new product every single year. They know we’ll line up outside a store at midnight and wait in line for five hours to get a new phone that is 1/8 of an inch thinner than the one we already have. And the saddest part? How many of those people in line are dropping $500 on a phone when they don’t even have money saved for retirement or their kids’ college funds? Don’t get us wrong; new things are fun … as long as your priorities are in order.

7. Listen to your broke friends (or family).

If you got through all the holiday family dinners unscathed by horrible financial advice, lucky you. One of the best ways to go broke is to take advice from broke people—like Uncle Earl and your old friend Pete. Listen to those guys and, before you know it, you’ll be invested in a pyramid scheme, leasing a BMW, and taking out a home equity loan to finance that cινιℓ ωαr figurine collection you just had to get.

8. Live in the past.

January is an opportunity to forget about how you got into a bad financial situation and, instead, look forward to how you plan on getting out. You can beat yourself up all you want, but that will only make things worse. The fact that you’ve realized the problem—whether it’s credit cards, overspending, not saving enough, etc.—is a great indicator that you’re ready to change. Now go do it.

9. Spend more time dreaming than working.

The opposite of living in the past is spending too much time dreaming about the future. That’s not a good option either. There’s nothing wrong with dreaming—that’s what hope is all about. But dreaming and working go hand in hand. You can’t let your dreams paralyze you and keep you from stepping out and getting things done. As we say around Dave’s office, “Goals are dreams with work boots on.”

Remember, winning with money is not just about doing the right things—it’s also about not doing the wrong things. If you can make it through 2013 without doing any of the above, then you are well on your way to having an awesome year.

What else do you vow not to do in 2013?

Dave Ramsay helped us get out of a horrible financial mess.  IF we had followed all of his advice, we'd be doing pretty well right now.....

But we keep trying!  This year is our year--we have a plan, and are sticking to it...

Dave Ramsey is not a good advisor but neither is the libertarian "return to the gold standard" mantra the right formula either.

My issue with DR is he needs to be viewed as an entertainer that is successfully selling media. He has no fiduciary responsibility to the people he is advising. His advice to only purchase  term life insurance is terrible. What happens when that 20 year term life expires, dad can't get anything but a funeral plan, and life didn't go as planned to have that 300K saved?

My issue with DR is he needs to be viewed as an entertainer that is successfully selling media. He has no fiduciary responsibility to the people he is advising. His advice to only purchase  term life insurance is terrible. What happens when that 20 year term life expires, dad can't get anything but a funeral plan, and life didn't go as planned to have that 300K saved?

I agree.  Many people who like him seem to be those who like to spend money on frivolous things.

Fair enough, TG20, and yes, investing in gold is held dear by libertarians.  I was (literally!) a card carrying libertarian, very involved in the party a number of years ago, so I know.  Even those of good will in that circle, and there are many! seem to be oblivious to their hyper focus on money, and too naive to see that liberty = license under a non Catholic government.  Alas, I venture too far into philosophic principles.
 
However, what little investment $$ we had a few years ago would be disintegrated now had we not put most of it into alternative investments, including gold.  Now we are able to help others, which was/is our intent.  
It's good to be able to cash out a minor investment that accuмulated a 20-30% increase to send to trad priests, which we've been doing the past few years.  
The resistance priests are our target in 2013.  

Wisdom is best absorbed without prejudice.  

Truly, I don't take it personally when someone disagrees and gives the ole thumbs down, but ugh.. no refutation drives me crazy.  
Such as, why would the person disagree with investment used for trad priests and Catholic needy?   Very odd.

Fair enough, TG20, and yes, investing in gold is held dear by libertarians.  I was (literally!) a card carrying libertarian, very involved in the party a number of years ago, so I know.  Even those of good will in that circle, and there are many! seem to be oblivious to their hyper focus on money, and too naive to see that liberty = license under a non Catholic government.  Alas, I venture too far into philosophic principles.
 
However, what little investment $$ we had a few years ago would be disintegrated now had we not put most of it into alternative investments, including gold.  Now we are able to help others, which was/is our intent.  
It's good to be able to cash out a minor investment that accuмulated a 20-30% increase to send to trad priests, which we've been doing the past few years.  
The resistance priests are our target in 2013.  

Wisdom is best absorbed without prejudice.

Yes liberaltarians absolutely obsess over money because most seem to be either a. bankers or investors or b. a bunch of young, stupid college kids who are economically and socially liberal i.e. support Rothbardian and Von Mises' economic freedom while supporting ɧoɱosɛҳųαƖity, abortion, etc.

As for me I care more about morality and ethics than money. Even then the libertarian support for free trade, tax cuts, open borders, liberalism of social issues, unlimited freedom in public life, etc. got us into the mess we are in now.