What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? Tell Old Mutual Wealth for a chance to win a £300 voucher! NOW CLOSED

[AngelieMumsnet]

Old Mutual Wealth has asked us to find out the best pieces of advice Mumsnetters have ever been given.

Here’s what they say, “Old Mutual Wealth is a big advocate of advice. In life and in financial matters, the guidance of someone you trust can make the difference between failure and success.”

So, what’s the best piece of advice someone's given you? Maybe someone has shared a genuinely life changing tip? Perhaps they passed on the secret on how to get your kids to clean their room/go to sleep/eat their greens. We’d also, more specifically, like to hear about the best financial piece of advice you’ve ever received. Whether it’s on how to save? Or maybe on what to do with your savings? Whatever they are, we’d love to hear them!

Everyone who posts on this thread will be entered into a prize draw to win a £300 Love2Shop voucher!

Thanks
MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs apply

Be kind to yourself
This too shall pass - both from cpn's. I've ocd and a tendency to have high expectations of myself. Also I tended to get locked into the anxiety and fear it would never end, the thing is all parts of life, good and bad, eventually end.

Never say anything behind someone's back you wouldn't say to their face

There's no pockets in shrouds - often said by my beloved gran who'd lost my granda days into his retirement which they'd saved hard for.
Pathos in his favourite saying though - better late in this world than early to the next - in reference to speeding drivers usually and this would have been 30-odd year ago before speeding was acknowledged as being as dangerous as it is.

Best piece of parenting advice, courtesy of my mother - 'Never let the child rule the adult!'

Best piece of financial advice (not that I always follow it): Always take out a set amount of money per week and don't overspend it. If you have any leftover, save it!

Best financial advice at age 18 - join a pension scheme.
Best parenting advice - pick your battles.
Best life advice - be kind.

A very wise lady who had many years more experience that me on the birth of our third son: Boys are like dogs, they need exercising twice a day.

Mine was from my DM before she passed away, she told me "when someone talks, listen."

She went on to explain than people always talk for a reason, even if you have to read between the lines, people use their voice to communicate most, even if they're not saying the words that reflect their feelings.

It's also a variant on "when someone shows you who they are, believe them." This was in response to an abusive boyfriend I had as a teen, he would do the usual thing of saying he only hurt me because he loved me so much, my mum said that he was physically showing me what kind of person he was, so to take note and act upon it. I dumped his arse quick smart once it finally sunk in!

I always try to listen to what people are saying and I always try to say things plainly and speak up, my voice is my most powerful tool and I don't want to waste it.

My dad said to me,when I was heartbroken and very low and felt that I had to resign a job that I loved, 'Sometimes you have to take a step backwards to go forwards.' He was totally right.
I've always loved the line, 'You've got to think high to rise.' A man I loved very much had that poem displayed in the home we shared.

From my Mum "consider the source". If someone says something hurtful, have a good look at the person, chances are they are not worth being upset by. If someone gives you advice (especially financial!) have a good look at the person offering the advice before you decide to take it or not!

On choosing partners: people don't change, so as everyone has faults, make sure you pick someone whose faults you can live with.
And who has a similar attitude to money to yours.

Also, ignore parenting advice from anyone with fewer than 3 children.

It's only when your tested that you discover who you are.

As in sink or swim

Every action has a reaction.

I have the first tattooed on my foot it relates to a really dark time I went through I could have quit life but actually the situation made me stronger as a person. I try to live life by it each time I get in a shitty situation I think am I a quitter am I worth more than this.

Neither a lender nor a borrower be - fab money advice, see it on mumsnet a lot too, usually offered in hindsight!!

The devil makes work for idle hands - always reminds me to keep dcs busy

When dcs are being grizzly, feed them before start telling them off, hunger can be a demon!

Always do your best. You are not going to be great at everything but even if your best isn't very good you can at least walk away with your head held high and know you did what you could.

When stressing about what the "book" says, people say, Internet says.... "Mum know best. Every child is different"

When worrying about small things, take time out, watch the news and put everything back into perspective.

Fool me once,shame on you. Fool me twice,shame on me.

When you are young you are meant to make "mistakes" that is why it is called growing up. The first time is a learning curve; learn from it, forgive yourself for it and move on. Doing the same thing twice is a mistake and if you do that, give yourself an honest sturn talking to, own up, face the consequences and learn never to do it again!

I was told that I should use any spare money to pay off debts rather than save it, as borrowing money costs more than saving it.

DH has been unemployed for a number of years, the best advice I received from a work colleague was 'what is meant for you will not go past you' and it has kept DH and I strong throughout our marriage, even with money worries.

Be aware of how many paydays you are away from ruin and save accordingly.

If for example you missed one months pay, would you be evicted? default on Mortgage or other essential repayments?

Best piece of general advice is "aim to be kind"

Kindness is underrated massively.

In general... 'Never respond in anger' has served me well. Always take time to step back and consider a response - especially if you're angered and likely to act irrationally!

For finances, 'Take care of the pennies and the pounds will take care of themselves'. A classic, but so true. Admittedly not that helpful if you're neck deep in debt, but if you're scraping by then little savings here and there can really add up and make a difference.

That the key to happiness is to want what you have, rather than have what you want.

When you're worrying about something ask yourself whether you can change things by worrying. If you can't , save your energy, and stop worrying.

And recently...
Peel a hard boiled egg by rolling it on a hard suface & applying pressure with your palm. So easy!

My mum told me the day I passed my driving test that I was 'better 2 minutes late in this world, than 2 minutes early in the next'

Has stood me in good steed.

Ask yourself 3 questions before you commit to buying any large purchases

1. Can I afford this?> Longterm in regards to big purchases
2. Will this have a positive impact on my future bank balance? (Savings, investment, re-sale value)
3. Do I NEED this?

If question 1 or 2 are 'no' then so is number 3 and you walk away from it.

Best piece of general advice - never go to sleep on an argument, always kiss your loved ones goodnight

Best piece of practical advice - never look onto a roundabout until it's your turn to enter it, or else you end up rear ending someone

Best financial advice? Shop around for loans and cards. Try and save over credit. But best bit - always have a little credit somewhere. Even a few quid on a card. You need a borrowing history for anything big like a mortgage.

Little pickers wear big knickers!