Are you guilty of these bad money habits?

Do you keep telling yourself, “I’ll figure it out later”?

Do you constantly make little purchases, telling yourself they don’t count?

These are just a few examples of common — and risky — behaviors that can damage your financial health. Nearly everyone has bad habits when it comes to their money. But the key to managing your money appropriately lies in preventing them from seriously damaging your long-term financial security.

Here are a few behaviors you may not realize can hurt you in the long-run, and a few solutions to help keep you on a path toward financial security.

[See: Basic Money Lessons You (Probably) Missed in High School.]

(Getty Images/iStockphoto/artisteer)
Blissful ignorance. You may know the old adage “ignorance is bliss,” but ignoring your bills and not understanding your finances can quickly lead you down a financial hole from which it will be hard to dig yourself out. Imagine the blissful feeling that comes from financial independence and security. The first step in getting serious about your finances is taking account of how much money you have coming in, then understanding how you’re spending it. Using personal finance apps can help you figure out the full picture by showing you all of your accounts in one place. Once you understand how you’re spending money and how you should save, you can use the personal finance apps to set a budget that fits your lifestyle. Stay in the know by using app notifications to get updates on when your bills are due and when you’re getting close to your budget each month. (Getty Images) [See: How to Talk to Millennials About Money.]   (Getty Images/iStockphoto/artisteer)
Female arm hold phone and silver pen at workplace closeup. Read news mania send sms chat addict use electronic bank modern lifestyle job plan colleague share blog tweet web application search
Procrastination. Are you someone who prides yourself on living in the moment? Do you tell yourself that you’ll start building your savings after your next raise or when you get a new job? Your financial future is just as important as — if not more than — your current financial situation, which is why it’s so important to stash away money for savings. Even if you can only afford $20 each month, you have to start somewhere. As a rule of thumb, try to follow the 50/30/20 rule, which is a proportional guideline that can help keep your spending in alignment with your savings goals. This means you should set aside no more than half of your income for the absolute necessities in your life such as housing, food and transportation. Then you should dedicate 20 percent of your take-home pay toward saving and 30 percent for expenses that enhance your lifestyle but aren’t essential. These personal lifestyle expenses include items such as shopping, happy hour and trips to the coffee shop. You can start following the 50/30/20 rule at any time, so seize the day and start now. (Getty Images)
“Treat yourself” mentality. Splurges are manageable every once in a while — for example, on birthdays and holidays — but they’re called “splurges” for a reason. Because the extravagant purchase is more than what you would usually spend or afford. So keep these purchases in check. Remember that frequently celebrating little wins and treating yourself to small gifts will add up quickly. Try to limit the amount of “treat yourself” moments and reframe the way you think about celebrating. Rather than rushing to the shops or spa, consider meeting up with friends for an outdoor activity or workout class. Just as small splurges can add up, so can saving a few dollars here and there. Keep your long-term goals and financial security in mind while you’re celebrating. You’ll thank yourself later. (Thinkstock)
Computer Monitor screen, concept of email
Information overload. Do you love subscription services and staying in the know about your favorite brands through company newsletters? Having these offers and flash sales in your inbox every day can easily lead you to spend money on items you don’t need. Retailers and coupon services regularly sending out special discounts can tempt you to buy those pricey leggings with one click because they’re now 15 percent off. But do you really need another pair of leggings? Were you even thinking about them before you saw the email? Pull the plug on services and subscriptions you don’t use and unsubscribe to newsletters that may tempt you to make impulse purchases. (Getty Images) [Read: Why Your Long-Term Relationship May Be Harming Your Financial Literacy.] (Getty Images/iStockphoto/Devonyu)
The majority of Americans, 84 percent, say it is important for them to use their time off to travel, yet workers use less than half of the vacation time they do take to travel. (Thinkstock)
Keeping up with the Joneses. In today’s social media landscape, it’s hard not to suffer from FOMO, the fear of missing out. But that’s no excuse to book a lavish vacation that you can’t afford on your credit card, just because you want to post pictures on Instagram. Remember your long game: Your credit history, credit score and debt-to-income ratio are important factors that are reviewed when you need to open up a new credit card, make a big purchase, such as a home or car, or take out a personal loan. This means that lenders and creditors pay attention to how much you spend on your credit card, including the percentage you pay off each month, and whether you’re spending within your means. Hurting yourself by trying to keep up with the Joneses could significantly damage your future financial security. Keep this in mind the next time you think you can just put something on credit and figure it out later. (Thinkstock)
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(Getty Images/iStockphoto/artisteer)
Female arm hold phone and silver pen at workplace closeup. Read news mania send sms chat addict use electronic bank modern lifestyle job plan colleague share blog tweet web application search
Computer Monitor screen, concept of email
The majority of Americans, 84 percent, say it is important for them to use their time off to travel, yet workers use less than half of the vacation time they do take to travel. (Thinkstock)

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Are You Guilty of These Bad Money Habits? originally appeared on usnews.com

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