*  86 percent value having financial security

*  73 percent value saving for retirement

*  70 percent value paying down debt

*  68 percent value building a savings account

Many Americans’ perceptions about their financial futures are optimistic, while their actual planning and budgeting falls short.

Interestingly, most would also like their money to go toward similar things:

*  57 percent would like to provide long-term financial security for their children

*  58 percent would like to pay for a child’s education

*  54 percent would like to care for parents or grandparents

*  42 percent would like to buy a first or new home

However, in reality, many of these families are making major mistakes — from not planning for emergencies to making their ATM passwords easily accessible — that could keep these dreams from becoming a reality.

“It’s encouraging that families feel good about their financial futures, but this confidence should stem from adequate financial planning and preparation,” said Susan Waring, CLU, executive vice president and chief administrative officer of State Farm Life Insurance Companies. “Americans cannot just ‘hope for the best’ when it comes to financial planning. All families must take a critical look at where they are financially and lay out a clear road map that guides them to their hopes and dreams.”

How many of these money mistakes are you making?

1. Keeping confidential information with you.
You should not carry your social security number, ATM passwords, bank account numbers, credit card numbers written in a day planner or any other personal, financial information with you. In the event that your wallet or purse is stolen, a thief could easily charge thousands of dollars to your credit cards or take money directly out of your bank account.

2. Throwing away a vulnerable computer.
Computers are an efficient tool to store all of your financial records and manage your money online. However, if you get rid of your computer with the hard drive intact, all of your personal finances (and other information) are free for the taking.

When you get rid of your computer, clean the hard drive, then, said Kevin Barrows, a former FBI agent who now works for Renaissance Associates, a computer forensic firm, “Smash it. Do whatever you have to do to make sure someone doesn’t use it.“

3. Giving out your social security number.
Writing your social security number on a check — particularly if you plan to mail this check to a business or other third party — leaves you vulnerable to identity theft, in which someone could easily clean out your life savings. You should also be extremely wary of giving your social security number over the phone and on the Internet.

Many scammers will call a person pretending to be from an organization and ask for your name and social security number. The same goes for Internet phishing scams. But once you give that out, the person can easily open fraudulent accounts in your name. A cautious approach would also be to not include your social security number on your driver’s license.

4. Using file sharing computer programs unwisely.
File sharing programs commonly used to download and share music are capable of sharing a lot more than that. These programs can scan your computer’s hard drive and find tax returns, bank statements and anything else you’ve got saved on there. To avoid sharing your financial information with the world, you must specify which files to share and which to keep private if you’re going to use these programs.

5. Writing your pin number on your ATM card.
The absolute worst place to keep your pin number is directly on your ATM card. This, of course, is because in the event the card is stolen, the thief can easily access your account.

When it comes to joint credit accounts, both partners are responsible for paying off debts — regardless of who made the charges.

6. Spending a lot on items you don’t need.
It’s very easy to nickel-and-dime your way to the poor house. To avoid doing this, keep track of what you spend your cash on for a week (including the mocha on your way to work, the money you give the kids and the smoothie at the gym). “In three weeks, you’ll be able to see where the money is going — like, gee, the kids are tapping me for $20 every time I turn around . . . so your kids may be your money leak,” says Ginita Wall, director of the Women’s Institute for Financial Education and an advisory board member for the GE Center for Financial Learning. “Time to corral in the kids — no more ‘Bank of Mom and Dad.’”

7. Not paying off credit card debt.
A good debt is something that will help you build wealth over time — such as a loan to go back to school or a mortgage. Bad debt is the kind that’s accrued from charging groceries, clothing and other everyday items, then having to pay much more than they’re worth in interest.

“If you pay only the minimum amount due on your credit card, you may end up paying more in interest charges than what the item cost you to begin with,” said Janet Kincaid, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) senior consumer affairs officer.

To avoid this, pay off your balance in full whenever possible, shop around for low-interest-rate cards, don’t carry a lot of credit cards (to resist the temptation to use them) and don’t make purchases you know you won’t be able to pay off in a short amount of time.

8. Not having a plan.
Many people procrastinate when it comes to finances, but studies have found that planning is associated with wealth accumulation. Rather than living paycheck to paycheck, you should develop a plan for saving money for emergencies, for retirement and for other expenses, like your child’s education and family vacations. The sooner you develop a plan, the better off you’ll be financially.

9. Not negotiating a raise.
Negotiating a raise for your first salary offer can add up to more than $500,000 by age 60. Don’t do it after that, and you stand to lose thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of dollars. Take, for instance, a negotiated salary raise of $2,000 a year. Over 30 years, that’s another $60,000.

10. Not paying attention to joint accounts.
If you and your spouse open joint credit accounts, you are both responsible — either jointly or individually — for any debts. So if your partner charges a huge debt, then can’t pay it off, you are still responsible. Likewise, if late payments are made, both individuals’ credit reports are negatively affected. Keep an eye on any account with your name on it, and talk with your spouse if problems arise. Money is the most common thing that couples argue about, so in some events you may be better off keeping your accounts separate.

A record 12 percent of homeowners are behind on their mortgage payments.

While many of those in financial trouble have risky adjustable rate loans (nearly half of subprime ARM loans are now past due or in foreclosure, according to the Associated Press), the crisis has now expanded to include even borrowers with good credit.

In fact, nearly 6 percent of “prime borrowers” with fixed-rate mortgages are now past due or in foreclosure, which is nearly double the rate in 2008.

The top reasons why people lose their homes through foreclosure? Lower income and lost jobs.

However, although layoffs slowed to 345,000 in May, far fewer than were expected, the unemployment rate is still a sobering 9.4 percent, leaving many unemployed and struggling to make ends meet.

Are You at Risk of a Foreclosure?

If you haven’t yet missed a mortgage payment it may seem premature to worry about foreclosure, but it’s important to be aware of the signs that a problem may be brewing. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), you should ask yourself the following questions:

• Has your financial situation changed due to a mortgage payment increase, loss of job, divorce, medical expenses, increase in taxes or other reasons?
• Is your credit card debt becoming unmanageable?
• Is it becoming difficult to pay all your monthly bills on time?

If the answer is yes to any of these questions, you should consider calling a HUD-approved housing counselor at (800) 569-4287.

A Foreclosure Timeline: What to Expect

A home foreclosure takes time, but often it catches families completely off-guard. Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect starting with your first missed payment:

1. One missed payment: You’ll be contacted by your lender either by letter or phone.

2. Two missed payments: Your lender will likely begin calling you to find out why payments have not been made. It’s best to take their calls and explain the problem rather than avoiding the situation, because you still may be able to make one payment and make up for two months of late payments.

3. Three missed payments: You’ll receive a “Demand Letter” or “Notice to Accelerate” from your lender stating how much you owe and will have 30 days to bring your mortgage current. At this point you can still try to work something out with your lender.

4. Four missed payments: If you have not paid the amount owed by the end of the 30 days, or worked out an arrangement with your lender, you will be referred to your lender’s attorneys and will be responsible for all attorney fees. At this point the attorney will schedule a sale of your home, and you have until the date of the sale to pay the amount you owe or make arrangements with your lender.

5. Redemption period: Many states offer a redemption period after your home has been sold at a foreclosure sale. During this period you can still reclaim your home by paying the outstanding mortgage balance and any other costs incurred.

If You Can’t Make a Payment, What Should You Do?

The first thing to remember is to stay in contact with your lender. You should contact your lender as soon as you realize you have a problem, as this will give you the best chances of being able to keep your home.

You should also open and respond to all mail from your lender, as the initial notices often contain valuable information about foreclosure prevention options that can help.

If you can’t make a mortgage payment contact your lender as soon as possible to work out a payment arrangement.

In terms of prioritizing your monthly expenses, your mortgage payment should be a priority after health care. If necessary, delay making payments on credit cards and other bills until you have paid your mortgage. You can also consider selling any assets you own, such as a second car, to help you make your payment until your income increases.

At any time during the process, you can also contact a HUD-approved housing counselor who can help you understand the law and your options, organize your finances and represent you in negotiations with your lender if you need this assistance.

Be wary of any foreclosure prevention companies that charge fees for their services, as you can get the service for free from HUD.

A Refinance Might Help

Given the severity of the housing market and unemployment rates, there are refinance programs in place to help struggling homeowners secure a mortgage payment they can afford. These include:

1. The Home Affordable Program: A new program just announced this March, it offers homeowners who owe more than their home is worth a lower market rate of interest that’s fixed for at least five years. To qualify, your home must not exceed the value of your mortgage by more than 5 percent, and you must have a loan backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. For more information, visit www.makinghomeaffordable.gov.

2. The Hope for Homeowners Program: If you’re in foreclosure or bankruptcy or at risk for default, this program helps you refinance into an FHA-insured loan that you can afford. For borrowers who refinance under Hope for Homeowners, lenders will be required to “write down” the size of the mortgage to a maximum of 90 percent of the home’s new appraised value. In many instances, lenders will determine that such a reduction in principal will allow them to avoid a costly foreclosure, while helping borrowers stay in their homes. For more information, visit the Hope for Homeowners Web site.

The sooner you act on these refinance options the better, as they can take months to take effect. And again, if you are afraid you will soon have trouble making a mortgage payment, don’t delay. Contact a HUD-approved housing counselor who can provide you with the information and assistance you need to avoid foreclosure.