Money Mistake #2: Typecasting ourselves.
A nationwide survey presented by Money magazine showed that husbands and wives divvy up money-related tasks along very traditional lines, with men doing most of the big-picture, long-term planning and women managing the day-to-day budgeting and spending. There are two disturbing points about this observation, going back to a relentless stereotype: men provide while women make what they provide pretty. As we take on the role of spender and internalize the daily “you need to buy this to look good” messages, we fall prey to blowing our budgets and accumulating debt to maintain that pretty exterior. Women, especially ages 18 to 34, are the most targeted consumer group because advertising and marketing gurus know that just about every financial choice in a woman's life can be, and often is, ridden with emotional baggage that has nothing to do with money. (Does “retail therapy” ring a bell?)

You also can’t afford to only think short term. If anything, we should be thinking “big picture” more than men because we live longer. Knowing this, Chatzky says to set your everyday spending in your budget to 25% and stay adamant about the 10% savings, which should include your IRA and/or 401(k) contributions. Missing out on these opportunities from an early age only means you're going to have to work longer or save more as you get older.

Money Mistake # 3: The need to know all the right answers.
“Women like to know they have the right answers before they proceed in just about any situation,” says Chatzky. “In most situations that works really well for us, but in the world of investing, it’s pretty impossible to know you have the right answer.” If you really want to be wealthy, put your money to work for you as much as you’re working for yourself—that’s what investing is all about. Unfortunately, women become so overwhelmed with the idea of being the best investor, we don’t even get in the game. You have to accept that you are not going to win every time in investing and focus on being a consistent investor, insists Chatzky. Study the market trends just like you do fashion trends and stay in the game. If you don’t, you’ll guarantee not winning at all.