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.