(BPT) - “I’m going to regret this in the morning.” Whether it was capping a high-calorie meal with a decadent dessert or agreeing to read just one more pre-bedtime book to an overtired toddler, nearly everyone has had reason to utter those words at some point in their lives. When it comes to money decisions, however, the last thing you want is regrets.

Yet many of us have them, according to a recent poll by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC). In fact, the poll of more than 2,200 people revealed five common financial regrets, including overspending (53 percent), not saving enough (18 percent), not preparing for retirement (14 percent), failing to buy a house (10 percent) and having bought a house (5 percent).

Fortunately, it is possible to avoid the kind of money decisions that lead to those regrets. Here are some basic steps that can help you make better financial choices and, hopefully, live regret free: