• Tweet ^[1]
• Email ^[2]

• Tweet ^[1]
• Email ^[2]

Popular Mechanics created a list of 100 Skills Every man Should Know ^[3], which naturally gravitated towards DIY/physical skills like jump starting a car and split firewood. The Frisky listed 30 Skills Every Woman Should Have Before Turning 30 ^[4], which actually touched on more than physical skills (though #12 is physical ), with a handful of financial skills (#17 – #20).

This isn’t a checklist of things you need to necessarily do in your life, it’s just a list of things that you should know how to do (in case the need arises).

Banking & Credit

1. Open a checking and savings account.
2. Deposit checks into an ATM.
3. Manage into your bank account online.
4. Establish a Certificate of Deposit Ladder ^[5].
5. Pay your bills online.
6. Open an online savings account ^[6].
7. Link bank accounts using ABA Routing and bank account numbers.
8. Request and review your free annual credit report ^[7].
9. Contest errors or inaccuracies on your credit history.
10. Apply for a loan (car loan, mortgage).
11. Get a bank or credit card fee waived.
12. Get a document notarized (or signature guaranteed).
13. Exchange currency.

Investing

14. Open a Roth IRA.
15. Open a brokerage account.
16. Rollover your 401(k) to a Rollover IRA.
17. Request a hardship loan against your 401(k).
18. Re-balance your investment portfolio.
19. Read a stock chart.
20. Read a mutual fund prospectus.
21. Buy stocks, bonds, ETFs or mutual funds.
22. Buying Treasury bonds at a bank and/or through Treasury Direct.
23. Read (and understand) a company’s annual report (including the financial sections).
24. Day trade.

Taxes

25. Prepare your taxes (using software is OK)
26. How marginal tax brackets work. ^[8]
27. E-File.
28. Handle an IRS audit.
29. Request an tax filing extension.
30. Pay estimated quarterly taxes.
31. Amend a tax return.
32. Legally shelter income from taxes.

Living & Spending

33. Create and track a budget.
34. Establish an emergency fund.
35. Comparison shop.
36. Sell something online. (eBay, Craigslist)
37. Mail in a rebate (and then get on them when they try to screw you).
38. Bribe someone ^[9] (besides a member of law enforcement!).
39. Buy adequate insurance (car, life, home/renters).
40. Negotiate with a vendor.
41. Threaten to cancel a service to get them to lower your rate.
42. Negotiate your salary, pay raise, or benefits.
43. Apply for a passport.
44. Bid in an auction.
45. Barter for goods and services.

End of Life

46. Prepare a Last Will and Testament.
47. Prepare a Medical Directive.
48. Be Executor of an estate.
49. Assume Power of Attorney.
50. Work with a Funeral Home/Mortuary.

Finally, the last financial skills you need to learn and do, and this is a bonus pair, is how to register to vote and then vote. Who gets into office, at any level, has a huge impact on your finances.

Are there any that I missed? (I’m sure there are)