My parents hung up when I asked for money. It was the best financial advice they ever gave me.

The author said her parents' firm stance taught her an important lesson about money that still sticks with her years later. Courtesy of Andrea Javor. Three months out of college, I spent excessively, racking up a bit of debt. My parents, who have always been generous, refused to give me a dime to pay off my credit card. Their hard stance taught me an important lesson on how to live within my means. "Congratulations on graduating, Andrea, now you're off the payroll," my dad not-so-jokingly declared on the steps of the Milwaukee convention center outside Marquette University. I barely had time to take off my cap and gown before they dropped me off in Chicago so I could start my first job at an advertising agency the next week. My parents generously paid most of my college tuition. At 22, I was grateful to be left with only a modest student loan balance. But I didn't think he was completely serious. Surely, they'd help me if I ever got into financial trouble. I was convinced I'd never need it anyway. I was steadfast in my desire to succeed. Plus, my parents gave my brothers and me a masterclass in work ethic. Between my dad's career in global supply chain and my mom's years as a Catho