1. Pay off your debts.
Clean up your finances before you invest. You are guaranteed to save money on interest when you pay off your bad debt — i.e., using the 7 steps debt elimination plan. On the other hand, there is no guarantee that your investment will make money; especially when you are new at it.
2. Do your homework.
Do not trade until you understand the market and what it has to offer. Learn about investing and the different kinds of investment before you jump in.
3. Know yourself.
Understand your risk tolerance and formulate your investment strategy based on your risk profile, goals, and time horizon.
4. Have a solid strategy.
Did you do 1, 2, and 3 above? Always remain true to your plan and follow the style that works best for you.

5. Do your research.
Never buy and sell if you do not understand what you are buying or selling. Learn how to read Cash Flow Statement, Balance Sheet, and Income Statement. Better yet, stay away from stocks altogether and use asset allocation and rebalancing strategy with investment vehicles like ETFs and mutual funds.
6. Stick with liquid investments.
Limit your exposure to investments, such as collectibles, commercial real estates, and limited partnership. They are difficult to sell quickly at a price close to its market value. Investments such as stocks and bonds give you greater flexibility and have great historical performance.
7. Time is money.
8. Be patient.
9. Buy and Hold.
10. Be tax efficient.
11. Keep costs low.
12. Use Limit Orders.
13. Use Stop-Loss Orders.
14. Lock in your profit.
15. Establish an emergency fund.
16. Diversify.
17. Reallocate once a year.
18. Manage your risks.
19. Be wary of bargain.
20. Stay your course.
21. Don’t try to time the market.
22. Don’t believe the hype.
23. Never sell into a panic.
24. Don’t pile your bet on the winners.
25. Don’t throw good money after bad.
26. Regular contribution is your friend.
27. Avoid taking small profits and big losses.
28. Reinvest for success.
29. Find your magic formula.
30. Not all investments are created equal.
31. Look through other people’s eyes.
32. Learn from your mistakes.
33. Avoid trading on margin.
34. Be flexible.
35. Have fun.

This list has been severely abridged. To read the full list and full descriptions, view the original post at it’s source:

35 Common Sense Rules for Investing (Moolanomy)

h/t Lifehacker.