Rather than just bash Rob Carrick's advice for young people, I'll offer up my own advice:

• Start investing as early as you can. The earlier the better.
• As soon as you have some money, invest some of it. If you have a paper-route or a part-time job, invest 10-20% of it for the long term. Get in the habit. Invest monthly. You won't miss that money.
• If you are babysitting for cash, tutoring for cash, earning tips, basically if you earning ANY employment income, file a tax return and declare all your income to build up RRSP contribution room.
• If you have RRSP contribution room, start an RRSP and contribute to it. Find a company that will not charge you any annual RRSP fee. I recommend something like TD's Mutual Fund Account. Set up an automatic monthly contribution if you have steady income. Max out your available contribution room every year.
• Set up one or more ING Direct Savings accounts or one ore more savings accounts at your bank. If there is anything big that you want to save up for, use that to save up for it.
• Don't get a credit card unless you have to. Keep your credit card limit low. Pay off your balance every month. Don't be dazzled by rewards plans.
• When you get a large chunk of money from a birthday, a scholarship/bursary, a tax refund, don't put it in your chequing account or convert it to cash. Deposit it into a savings account. Sit on it for a bit. Don't make an impulsive purchase.

Think any of my advice is bad? Think I am missing something? Let me know.