Sometimes, given the state of the housing market, I wonder if my biggest money mistake was being born 20 years too late and to parents with the wrong number of zeros on the end of their bank account. But, in all seriousness, I definitely have some real financial regrets that cost me.

When I decided to turn my finances around six years ago, I had to unwind years of dodgy spending habits, face up to my bank statements and pay down credit card debt that I’d racked up simply by being uninformed about money management.

Here are some of the biggest mistakes I wish I’d known to avoid.

Getting stuck in the work, spend, repeat trap

Ever since I was a teenager serving paninis in a local café, I’ve worked a lot. I had fun at my hospitality jobs and would pick up extra shifts to bring in as much money as possible.

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Unfortunately, instead of saving any for the future, I got myself stuck on the 'work, spend, repeat' hamster wheel. I’d exhaust myself working, spend all the money I made doing it, and then have to keep working more and more to keep up with myself. It felt like I was always working and never had anything to show for it.

Essentially, I got complacent with my ability to just work more and more. I kept deferring my plans to save money, telling myself I’d fix it later. I wish I’d worked less and been smarter with my money sooner so I could’ve had cash in the bank to give me more choices in life.

Being more generous than I could afford to be

I’ve always enjoyed giving gifts and being generous with my money, but it all adds up. Shouting rounds of drinks, picking up the bill and not following up when people owed me, or always being happy to pay a bit extra to cover the tip. It all contributed to the cycle of money leaking out of my account on repeat and meant I never had much to show for what I earned.

Not negotiating salaries or advocating for my worth

I’ve never negotiated a salary in my life. I didn’t know that you could, and I didn’t know how. I’ve always worked for smaller businesses, and I’d always assumed that negotiation was a big corporate thing. I took every salary offer on face value and thought I just had to accept it.

I wish I’d known to shop around for jobs, been more confident in my skills, and known that I could pursue higher salaries. I’ve missed out on tens of thousands of dollars in comparison to what other people have told me they earn.