Suze Orman’s 32 essential tips to safeguard your money before it’s too late

Best-selling author, TV host and personal finance guru Suze Orman has been inspiring North Americans for decades to make better money moves and avoid serious financial mistakes.

She'll be the first to tell you that what you don't do with your money may be even more important than what you do with it.

Here are 32 major money don’ts — straight from the expert.

1. Don't be too quick to buy a home

Buying a home too early can strain your finances — especially in a high-price market. In Canada, the average home price was $690,195 in October 2025, according to the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) (1).

"Sometimes it makes sense to own a home," Orman told CNBC (2). "And sometimes, depending on where you live, it makes sense to simply rent."

That's particularly true if you're in an expensive city. Instead of pouring a lot of money into property, Orman says why not invest in the stock market? That way, you can grow your savings — maybe into a down payment on that home of your dreams.

If you’re not financially ready, renting while investing the difference is still a smart strategy. Canadians can use robo-advisors such as:

• Wealthsimple Invest — Canada’s largest robo-advisor with low-fee diversified portfolios. Disclaimer: Terms and conditions apply. Visit Wealthsimple for up-to-date terms and conditions.
• Questwealth Portfolios (Questrade) — Actively managed ETF portfolios with management fees starting at 0.20% to 0.25%.

Sponsored

Smart investing starts here

Build your own investment portfolio with CIBC Investor’s Edge online and mobile trading platform. Enjoy low commissions on trades and special pricing for active traders, students and young investors.

Get started today

2. Don't lease a car

In Suze Orman's words, "you should never, ever ever ever, lease a car."

Leasing leaves you with payments but no asset. That's because if you lease, you'll sink your money into several years' worth of car payments and be empty-handed when the lease term is done.

Financing is a better option, but Orman says if it will take longer than three years to pay off the car, then it’s out of your price range. As of 2024, the average price of a new vehicle in Canada exceeded $65,000 (3). Due to high costs of newer vehicles, many Canadians now take 84- or 96-month car loans, which dramatically increase interest costs.

Another option is to buy a gently used vehicle. Models that are just a few years old will have great safety specifications and the same audio-visual tech as a new car, at a fraction of the price.

3. Don't co-sign a loan

When a friend or family member in need asks you to co-sign a loan, Orman says the only correct response is to turn them down. As she puts it: "Don’t be afraid to say 'no to others and say 'yes' to yourself."

When you co-sign a loan, you become legally responsible for paying back the money. Life is unpredictable and if anything happens to prevent the borrower from repaying the loan, you’ll be on the hook to make the payments.

Plus, if the borrower is late on their payments, even a few times, it will impact your credit score. That's not good. Instead, offer your friend or family member other options for borrowing money even if they have bad credit.

Read More: Learn where to find the best personal loans in Canada

Sponsored

Take control of your money with Monarch

Simplify your finances with Monarch, the all-in-one app designed to help you budget, track spending, and hit your goals faster. For a limited time, get 50% off your first year with code WISE50.

Start your free trial today

4. Don't sell stocks when markets are bad

When stocks are hurtling down, investors tend to drop investments fast. This is a bad idea, says Orman.

Instead of dumping stock, she advises that you just keep investing the same amount of money each month, regardless of what the market is doing. Using this strategy, a bad month for the market becomes a good month to invest.

"I wish for 2008 again," she tells Yahoo Finance (4) referring to the year of the big market meltdown. "That’s when the fortune was made. That’s when you could buy stocks for pennies on the dollar."

If you train yourself to hold on tight through market dips, you’ll continue to build a solid portfolio with long-term earning potential.

5. Don't put blind faith in a financial advisor

It's important to have a financial advisor you can trust but that doesn't mean you can let go completely.

"Don’t think that they’re always going to have your best interest at heart, because probably they have their own best interest at heart,” Orman says.

When selecting a financial professional, make sure they are a "fiduciary", which means your advisor has a legal duty to act in your best interest. During your vetting process, ask prospective advisors about how they'll be compensated for working with you and about other services they can offer. This will give you a good idea of their motivations when they invest your money. Even better, consider an adviser — a professional with accreditation.

6. Don't let debt linger

"Debt is bondage,” Orman tells CNBC (5). "You will never, ever, ever have financial freedom if you have debt." Still, she points out that not all debt is the same.

Mortgages and student loans can be considered "good debt," because home loans usually have fairly low interest rates and at the end you own a high-value asset, and your degree is an investment that should generate a higher income over time.

However, credit cards have much higher interest rates. Credit-card interest in Canada often ranges from 19.99% to 24.99%, according to the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) (6). The longer you put off paying down your credit balances, the more money you lose. You can easily wind up paying for your purchases three or four times over. It's not easy getting out of this kind of debt, but with certain solutions, such as debt consolidation, it's possible.

Consolidating debt into a lower-interest personal loan — dropping interest rates from 20% to 8% or 12%, depending on credit — can cut interest significantly. Comparison shop for the best consolidation loans with Loans Canada. For smaller amounts — loans between $500 and $35,000 — check out Mogo.

7. Don't spend to impress others

It's human nature to want to impress others, but Orman knows from experience how foolish this can be — and how hard it can be on your finances. Orman once leased a fancy BMW and bought a Cartier watch with money borrowed from her 401(k) — the American equivalent to a registered retirement savings plan (RRSP). Her reason? She was trying to impress a woman she was dating. Recalling this situation, Orman confesses it was "the most stupid thing I’ve ever done with money."

In the end, spending money you don’t have to impress others will leave you with shallow relationships and stressful bills. Work hard, invest wisely and reap your fortune when you’ve made it. There’s nothing more impressive than true financial success.

8. Don't say it's impossible to save

Too often, Orman tells people they ought to consider saving more — only to have them respond that it's impossible because there's never any extra money left over at the end of the month.

"I beg to differ," she says, on SuzeOrman.com (7). "There’s no money left because you haven’t evaluated your spending habits. You need to dig deep and be willing to change those habits."

Practically anyone can squeeze out up to $100 in "hidden money" for saving and investing each month, Orman says. For example, you might boost your home's energy efficiency and cut your utility bills by as much as 10% by caulking drafty windows, putting weather stripping around exterior doors and switching to energy-saving lightbulbs.

9. Don't spend on things you don't really need

There’s no better way to kick-start your savings than by playing the need vs. want game.

The next time you're ready to buy something, ask yourself whether you really need it. Is it a necessity, such as medication, food from the grocery store or a solid pair of shoes for work? Or simply something you want — like another drink at the bar, fast food for dinner again or a second pair of knee-high boots?

"If it’s a want, just walk away. If it’s a need, then buy it," Orman writes (8). "Try this for six months and you’ll be shocked at how easy it is and how much money you’ll save."

If you have trouble finding out where you spend your money, consider investing in a budget tracker, like Monarch Money. You can track your spending and create a budget — all in one place — with Monarch Money. Once you link your bank accounts and investment portfolios, you can see all your transactions in one list, helping you stay on top of your spending.

Monarch also offers a seven-day free trial to see if it’s right for you. If you like the platform, you can then get 50% off for your first year with the code WISE50.

10. Don't retire too early

Orman was asked what she thought of the FIRE movement on a recent edition of the podcast Afford Anything (9). That's FIRE as in "financial independence, retire early." Her blunt response: “I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it."

This set off a firestorm among the FIRE faithful, but Orman explained that it would take a lot of money to make retirement work at, say, age 35.

"You need at least $5 million, or $6 million," she said. "Really, you might need $10 million." In her opinion, anything less wouldn't offer you enough protection from a potential financial catastrophe, like an expensive illness.

"You will get burned if you play with FIRE," Orman explained. In Canada, the amount required ot retire early depends on what you qualify for with income supports (CPP and OAS), inflation, housing, and whether you own your home. As a result, most Canadians need $1million to $1.7 million in invested assets to retire comfortably at age 65 and much more if the plan is to retire decades sooner.

11. Don't go without a will

"Do you have your estate planning in place? If not, you might want to think again," Orman writes on Oprah.com (10).

While everybody needs a will, many don't have one and lack other important end-of-life documents, including a power of attorney (for property) and an advance directive (or personal directive), along with named beneficiaries on RRSPs, TFSAs, pensions, and life insurance.

Orman suggests getting your estate plan in order in order to pass on your major assets to loved ones without triggering expensive probate tax, estate taxes and legal fees.

12. Don't take out a reverse mortgage in your 60s

A reverse mortgage is a type of home equity loan for seniors that allows you to receive the money as a lump sum or in monthly installments. The loan is repaid, with interest, when you die or sell the house.

In Canada, you can take out a reverse mortgage starting at age 55 (11), but Orman says that's risky. In her view, it's best to treat a reverse mortgage as a last resort for emergency money and to wait as long as possible before going that route.

"If you tap all your home equity through a reverse at 62 and then at 72 you realize you can’t really afford the home, you will have to sell that home," she says.

13. Don't miss out on matching money

If you have a retirement plan through work, don't leave free money on the table. Make sure you're putting enough in so that you'll receive the full matching contribution from your employer.

Orman says your company might kick in 50 cents for every dollar you contribute, up to 6% of your salary.

"Under those terms, if the employee contributed $3,000, the employer would kick in another $1,500," she says, on Oprah.com. "Hello! That's a guaranteed 50% return on your investment."

So, raise your paycheque contributions and start maxing out the match today.

14. Don't stay at a job you hate

Orman notes how a lot of workers aren't really into their jobs. And if you're in that group, you're selling yourself short.

"Staying in a job you don’t like is disrespectful to yourself, and your loved ones," Orman says on her website (12). "There is no way you can tell me that doesn’t negatively impact your relationships."

But quitting may not be the answer. Before you start looking around for a new opportunity, see if the job you have can be modified to address whatever it is that makes you unhappy. Just don't ever frame it that way when you meet with the boss or human resources representative. Instead, tell the management you'd like to talk about how your job might be "tweaked" so you can be more productive.

15. Don't buy a new car

If you love being the first person to drive a brand-new car and you can never get enough of that new-car smell, you'll have to get over all of that, Orman says.

"The second you drive that car off the lot, it depreciates, 10%, 20%,” she tells CNBC (13). "Let somebody else get that depreciation."

Your home may appreciate in value, but that rarely happens with a car. So don't waste your money on new — and always buy used. It takes some work, such as carefully checking the vehicle and applying for a car title transfer, but you'll save much more in the end.

Then, keep your vehicle as long as you can — at least 10 years, and maybe even 15 or 20. Orman says that's how wealthy people do it — including herself.

16. Don't go without life insurance

Orman says for parents in particular, life insurance is a product you can't afford to go without. It provides peace of mind, because it will protect your family if something happens to you and you're suddenly out of the picture.

Learn more by using our guide on how life insurance plans work.

And it's cheap: A healthy 40-year-old woman might pay less than $35 a month for a policy with a $500,000 death benefit. Orman recommends term life insurance, where the premiums never change for the term of the policy. "C’mon Moms. (And Dads)," says the personal finance guru, on her site. "You can't tell me that less than one dollar a day is too much to ensure your family is safe no matter what."

Read More: Best life insurance in Canada

17. Don't ever miss a student loan payment

Struggling with student loan debt? Whatever you do, don't just throw up your hands and stop paying.

"Make paying back your student loan the very first bill you pay," Orman says on her Facebook page. "It is more important that you make your student loan payments on time each month than any other bill."

She has called student loan debt "the most dangerous debt you can ever have" because you can't erase it through bankruptcy. If you try to walk away from your loans, the debt will catch up with you eventually. Canada Student Loans enter collections after nine months of non-payment, at which point the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) can garnish wages or withhold tax refunds (14). If you can’t afford payments, apply for the Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP).

18. Don't invest for the wrong reasons

Orman says too many people — especially young people — make investment choices purely because a stock seems cool or trendy.

"They decide, 'This company is great, I'm going to invest in that,'" she tells CNBC (15). If that's your strategy, "maybe you'll hit it right, maybe you'll hit it wrong."

It's less risky to diversify your investing by putting your money into index funds and exchange-traded funds, or ETFs. Open an investing account and put in regular amounts through what's called "dollar cost averaging." Stay steady through the market's ups and downs and you'll always come out ahead, Orman says.

To start, consider opening a direct investment account with a brokerage that offers robust tools to educate and level-up your investing knowledge, like those offered through CIBC Investor's Edge. Open an account before March 31, 2026 using promo code EDGE2526 and get 100 free trades and $150 cash back. (Terms and conditions apply).

19. Don't take a tax refund

"If you’re getting a tax refund, you are making one of the biggest mistakes out there," Suze Orman says.

Why? Because you've essentially had too much of your pay withheld for taxes — and have effectively given the government an interest-free loan. When you're owed a $2,400 refund, you've allowed yourself to be shortchanged $200 per month throughout the year.

But people love their tax refunds and eagerly plan out how they'll use the money each year. Orman is isn't backing down. On CNBC.com, she calls a tax refund "the biggest waste of money that you will ever get."

Still, it pays to take deductions and to plan strategically. For instance, many Canadians can reduce taxes paid or increase tax refunds by:

• contributing to RRSPs
• claiming childcare costs, medical expensse or maximizing educational credits

As such, in Canada, a tax refund isn’t automatically a “mistake” — but if you consistently receive large refunds without RRSP contributions, your tax strategy may need updating.

20. Don't waste money on coffee

Your daily stop to pick up a cup of dark roast or a cappuccino is a habit you need to break, the money maven says. It's a "want," not a "need," and it's costing you a ton of money.

"You are peeing $1 million down the drain as you are drinking that coffee," Orman recently told CNBC (16) — causing coffee drinkers across North America to do a spit take.

Here's the math: If you're spending $100 a month, that's money that could grow instead in your RRSP or TFSA — to roughly $200,000 after 40 years, assuming a 6% rate of return. "Every single penny counts" when you're saving for your future, Suze Orman says.

21. Don’t retire owing money on your home

According to a 2022 report from Statistics Canada, the overall percentage of older Canadians that own a home mortgage-free is decreasing, effectively suggesting that a rising portion of near-retirees are carrying housing debt as they are about to hit retirement. “This is so not OK,” Orman has blogged.

She urges people to go into retirement mortgage-free, for two reasons: to stretch their retirement savings, and to rid themselves of debt — an albatross that affects even mental health. “If you’re going to stay living in that house for the rest of your life, pay off that mortgage as soon as you possibly can,” Orman tells CNBC.

Without a mortgage, you'll have more financial security in retirement, she says. So work until you're 70, use excess emergency savings and do whatever else it takes to get that house debt paid off.

22. Don’t let your wallet get sloppy

There's nothing too profound about this piece of advice. Orman is literally talking about keeping your wallet organized and knowing exactly what’s in it.

Your wallet, she says, is "a picture of your life." It especially reflects how you think about money and manage your finances. Crumpled bills stuffed in any old way show disrespect and a lack of accountability.

What’s in Orman’s slim wallet? Her driver's license, health insurance cards, exactly $170 in cash neatly arranged by denomination, and three credit cards with perks that suit her lifestyle. The amount of cash is no accident, either: The digits 1, 7 and 0 add up to eight. “In Asia, eight is the number of wealth," Orman explains.

23. Don’t buy a home you can't afford

Being able to afford a certain rent payment doesn’t necessarily mean you can afford a house with a similar mortgage payment.

“The big mistake that many people make is that they’re paying $1,500 a month for rent and they go out and look for a home and they can get a home for a $1,500-a-month mortgage,” Orman said.

But the costs of moving in and keeping up a home over the long term far exceed those of renting a place. And you'll need to get the best mortgage rate you can. Orman reminds potential homebuyers to factor in not only the monthly mortgage payments but also the down payment, closing costs, initial repairs, moving expenses and ongoing maintenance costs.

24. Don’t risk your retirement to pay for your kids’ college

Orman is incredulous over reports that saving for retirement is taking a back seat to saving for college. Turns out 8 out of 10 parents (81%) believe it is their duty to put money away for their kids' higher education while another 52% would willingly go into debt in order to help pay for post-secondary schooling (17).

"Are you nuts?" Orman blogged. "Your 20s and 30s are when saving in retirement gives you a huge advantage: decades when your money can grow." When parents whine that they’d do anything for their kids, Orman comes back with, "top of the list should be to make sure you will never be a financial burden for them."

25. Don’t skimp on car insurance

Orman doesn’t think basic car insurance coverage is enough. "It will be a financial disaster paying out of pocket for serious injuries, loss of wages, rehab and such for the other driver (and their passengers) if you cause an accident," she blogs (18). In Canada, auto-insurance requirements, and coverages, can vary province. While premiums can rise, Orman advises working with an independent agent who will comparison-shop the rates for you and find you the best deal. Raising your deductibles also can result in significant savings.

Read More: The best car insurance companies in Canada

26. Don’t let holiday spending get out of control

Even people who normally spend responsibly take complete leave of their senses when the holidays roll around. Orman blames a lack of planning. She recommends dividing your total gift-giving budget by the number of people on your list and sticking to the maximum per person.

“Challenge yourself not to buy any gift with a credit card … you're much more likely to purchase only what you can afford,” Orman says. She says holiday credit card debt can linger much longer than the recipient will remember your gift.

Plus, friends and relatives would feel ashamed if they found out their gifts were beyond your means. "Time and love are the most valuable possessions you can share," Orman writes.

27. Don’t keep kids in the dark about credit

Suze Orman shakes her head at reports that millennials are avoiding credit cards.

"I am wholeheartedly on board with preferring a debit card," she says. "But everyone needs to also have a credit card and use it responsibly."

She thinks parents who don’t teach kids how to use credit do them a disservice. After all, the credit bureaus factor spending and payment history into credit scores, which determine who gets a car, house or small-business loan, and the kind of interest rates they pay.

Orman recommends teaching good credit use in one of three ways: adding your teen to one of your existing accounts; co-signing for a no-fee, low-limit card; or having your kid apply for a secured card that requires a deposit.

28. Don’t let fear stop you from getting rich

Orman doesn’t mince words. "Stop feeling sorry for yourselves and go out there and create the financial life that is waiting for you," she tells CNBC.

Fear, she believes, is often the only thing standing between you and a pay raise, a better job, shrewd investments and other financial goals. "You most likely are your own financial obstacle," she continues, "and you have to remove your fears from wanting to create more."

So, stop saying you can't do this thing or that thing, or that you're not smart enough, or that you were never good with numbers, or whatever. Orman's best advice is to change your mindset about money, pay off debt and start getting rich.

29. Don’t ever take out a payday loan

If you want to get a rise out of Suze Orman, just ask how she feels about payday loans.

“I am begging all of you, do not take a payday loan out,” she said on an episode of her podcast, going so far as to add that it’s the biggest mistake listeners could ever make.

Payday loans are tempting because they’re relatively easy to get when you’re strapped for cash. However, these short-term loans are offensively expensive. The typical annual percentage rate (APR) — what it costs you to borrow funds — can be as 100% or more. Even with regulatory restrictions, you could pay $14 to $17 per $100 borrowed (19). By comparison, the average APR on credit cards is around 17%.

Read More: Here are good options for emergency loans for people with bad credit

30. Don’t become a landlord

The return of the house-flipping craze makes Orman nervous.

Even blazing hot markets inevitably cool down. If you can't sell a flip house at a profit, you may have to rent it out. And being a landlord isn’t as glamorous as it looks on HGTV. Landlords must replace toilets, keep critters at bay, and let in tenants who lock themselves out.

“Do you think … you can attract responsible tenants who would pay enough to cover your property tax and maintenance charges? Even if you could, do you really want to be a landlord?” Orman asked one fan (19).

She says don't do it unless your emergency fund can cover at least eight months’ worth of mortgage payments.

31. Just don’t sell blue chip stocks — period

Orman speaks from personal experience. In 1997, she invested around $5,000 in Amazon. She sold the stock a few years later and quadrupled her money.

However, the shares would be worth millions today. "It makes me sick to even tabulate it," she told CNBC.

Investing in individual stocks isn’t her favorite game plan, but she says people who play the market should at least do extensive research on the companies they’re interested in. She says Google, Facebook and others are expected to retain their competitive edge for years to come.

“If you do buy, though, make sure to hold," Orman advises. "You keep a great stock forever."

32. Don’t let vacation time go unused

Suze Orman is all for taking vacations. She’s the first to say everybody needs a recharge now and then — especially people who intend to work until they’re 70.

Saying no to a trip you can’t afford is a good thing, but there’s no excuse for not using your vacation time. And you don't have to spend a ton of money to enjoy it.

"Unplug from your work. And do something that gives you pleasure. Day trips. A home project you never get around to," Orman blogged. "There are so many ways to step out of your demanding work routine without spending money."

If nothing else, you’ll be more productive and engaged on the job.

Article sources

We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines.

CREA (1); CNBC (2, 5); AutoTrader Canada (3); Yahoo Finance (4); Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (6); SuzeOrman.com (7); AARP (8); Afford Anything (9); Oprah.com (10); Government of Canada: Reverse Mortgages (11); Suze Orman (12); CNBC (13); National Student Loans Service Centre (14); CNBC (15); CNBC (16); Embark (17); Suze Orman (18); Oprah (19)