Suze Orman’s 2 Personal Finance Rules to Follow (and 2 to Rethink)

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Personal Finance Debt Management Share Share Close Mail Page URL https://money.com/suze-orman-rules-that-still-matter/ Link copied! Suze Orman’s 2 Personal Finance Rules to Follow (and 2 to Rethink) By: Marc Guberti Marc Guberti Marc Guberti is a personal finance writer who hosts Breakthrough Success, a podcast where he teaches listeners how to grow their businesses and achieve personal transformations. Has also written: Two Simple Money Habits Everyone Should Use Now — and They Take Just 5 Minutes What Warren Buffett’s Grocery List Teaches About Spending Smarter The 5-Minute Habit That Could Save You Thousands 9 Everyday Purchases That Are Quietly Draining Your Savings 7 Simple Money Habits That Can Strengthen Your Retirement Over Time See full bio Published: Feb 20, 2026 5 min read Getty Images Personal finance expert Suze Orman has years of experience guiding people on how to make the most of their money. She focuses on debt reduction and the emotional side of money, and you may be able to better your finances by digging into her resources. Like most personal finance gurus, not every rule Orman encourages will make sense for you. Here are four of her rules — two that make sense for most people, and two you may want to reconsider. Must ReadExperts are Bullish on Gold — Here's How to Get InRetirees: How a Small Gold Allocation Can Soften Losses When the Stock Market WobblesWarren Buffett on Market Volatility — and 3 Ways You Can Take Advantage 2 rules to follow 1. Make sure you have an emergency fund Orman is a big fan of establishing an emergency fund that can cover your monthly expenses should the unexpected happen, like you lose your job or face a surprise medical bill. Financial advisors typically recommend having enough money in a liquid account, like a high-yield savings account, to cover your expenses for three to six months. But it depends on your circumstances: If you have unpredictable income streams or often incur medical or vet bills, you may want to save a bit more.

Gold Investor Kit Offer: Sign up with American Hartford Gold today and get a free investor kit, plus receive up to $20,000 in free silver on qualifying purchases 2. Maintain solid credit Orman suggests prioritizing your credit score, which can impact how likely you are to be approved for loans and how much you’ll have to pay in interest. A high credit score makes it easier to get good terms on loans like mortgages and auto loans. FICO scores (the most commonly used credit scores) of 670 to 739 are generally considered good, while 740 to 799 is considered very good and 800 to 850, excellent. Checking your credit report for errors, paying bills on time, having a mix of types of credit and getting a credit card are all ways to possibly boost your credit score. Pet Protection: See How Spot Pet Insurance Can Help Your Dog or Cat 2 rules you may want to rethink As the name implies, personal finance is personal. It's important to consider whether Orman's next two rules actually make sense for you. 1. Avoid leasing a car A house is likely the most expensive purchase you will make, but a car may be the second-largest purchase. Orman recommends never leasing a car since it requires that you make monthly payments on a car that you’ll never own. She said on CNN in 2023 that it was a "waste of money." Like with most financial decisions, it’s not black and white. Leasing a car may make sense for some people. The advantages include that you can drive a higher-priced car than you may be able to otherwise afford, and that you won’t have to go through the trouble of reselling. But on the flip side, you're pouring money into something that’s depreciating in value and you risk facing charges if you want to get out of the lease early. Extra Money: Get up to $1,000 in stock when you fund a new active SoFi invest account 2. Rely on debit, not credit Orman suggests keeping your credit card usage to a minimum to avoid credit card debt. She says to rely on debit cards, and only use a credit card for one or two recurring charges you can put on autopay. The thinking is that you want to avoid credit card debt, which comes with high interest rates. But if you can pay your credit card in full each month, there are perks to using credit. The rewards programs that come with credit cards can help you save on travel, groceries and gas, for example. Plus, using a credit card helps you build credit, and they tend to offer better protection should someone get a hold of your card than debit cards, since they’re not linked directly with your account. Must ReadExperts are Bullish on Gold — Here's How to Get InRetirees: How a Small Gold Allocation Can Soften Losses When the Stock Market WobblesWarren Buffett on Market Volatility — and 3 Ways You Can Take Advantage