What would you tell your 19 year old self?

[joeeffect]

So basically I'm 19 and I'm wondering what advice/suggestions would you give to your 19 year old self? Recently discovered this site and I really like it and plan to use it as a financial guide somewhat as I get my career going.

[Jessa]

I would tell my 19 year old self to get a useful degree. Probably in computers or business, possibly engineering (although I don't have the best spacial skills, so probably not). I have a fine arts degree, because I had no idea what I wanted and just sort of fell into it.

That's not to say that you can't have a solid future with a fine arts degree, or no degree at all, but unless you have specific goals, pick something useful.

[Gone Fishing]

I took most of my own advice, but here you go.  I did luck out and pick a good major that I liked at a cheap(er) state school, but do plenty of research and pick an education and career that fits your interests AND has good potential for income.  Keep your student loans to a minimum by living like you are actually in college, not a trust fund kid.  Don't sell yourself short on salary. Negotiate your starting salary, work hard, do a good job, then negotiate raises when appropriate, take another job if you need to in order to move up.  Use resources like Glass-door to find out what the market is like.  Continue to live like a college student for 10 years (minimum) after you get a good job. Make friends and date people that are good with money.  When and if you get married, hold off on kids until you are 30.  Invest early and often, don't panic when the market crashes, buy more.  Look for ways around expenses others think are fixed.  Don't worry what others think.  Stay focused and be patient, even a 10-15 year working career is a long time. Set the course, then find inexpensive interests to keep yourself busy, do check ups from time to time to make sure you haven't strayed.  Dwelling on retirement every day for 10-15 years gets old. It may be simple, but it is not easy, if it was, anyone could do it.

[David Lurie]

I would advise a 19 year old not to lose focus on the career that they want to pursue, but also to prepare for the probability that their career will not go as planned and to remain flexible. In fact, I would tell that person that most of life does not go according to plan; perhaps, because the 'Plan' isn't really in the hands of the individual.
I'd encourage them to focus on the things that can be more easily controlled: healthy eating, exercising, spending habits/overall consumption.

[tofuchampion]

I would tell my 19 year old self to get a useful degree.

Same.  Mine's in religion.  I had plans to do church work...except somewhere along the way, my Christian university got me thinking enough that I eventually became an atheist.  I'm 31 now, and going back to school next year for a nursing degree.

I was in the military when I was 19, so I had a LOT of opportunity that I wasted.  Educational opportunity, way more free money than I needed, etc.  I would tell my younger self, 1) don't get married, 2) go to school during active duty; don't wait till you get out, 3) read "Your Money or Your Life."

[expatartist]

I would tell my 19 year old self to get a useful degree. Probably in computers or business, possibly engineering (although I don't have the best spacial skills, so probably not). I have a fine arts degree, because I had no idea what I wanted and just sort of fell into it.

That's not to say that you can't have a solid future with a fine arts degree, or no degree at all, but unless you have specific goals, pick something useful.

My advice would be nearly 180 degrees from Jessica's, mostly due to my obsession with hacking life, education, and travel. I also majored in art, knew it was pretty useless going into it. But it was what I wanted. Little did I know there were so many variants of art and arts jobs in the 21st century, well beyond anything I could conceive of at the time.

What would I do differently? During university, instead of turning up my nose at business, I would've minored in it. I would've taken the scenic painting courses which were available (but never advertised) a few buildings away - they would've been excellent preparation and potential contacts for the painting I did later for local companies. Ditto for the design courses which seemed hidebound at the time.

On the personal side - I would've spent less energy on boyfriends and more on myself. But overall, things turned out fine - more twisted and turned-around and fabulous than I ever imagined.

[Mrs. J]

I would tell my younger self not to take on so much debt in student loans. I was a complete idiot and accepted the max they offered me every year, even though I didn't strictly need it. Also, travel far and wide instead of spending every last cent on crap that won't make you happy (I know you think it will, but trust me, you won't even own whatever that thing is in 10 years). :)

[Ynari]

When I turned 19 three years ago (ahhh, youth), I was about to start college.  Now I'm about to finish, so this is a timely exercise.

I always worried so much when I was younger about what my "passion"(s) in life would be - I didn't feel like I had feelings, for people, things, or ideas/actions.  I would tell her that she will find passion, but it starts outside her comfort zone and she wouldn't even realize it until she was deprived of it.  I'd tell her not to be *quite* so ambitious academically; the main education she'd get wouldn't be from classes but from learning about people and projects in leadership and group positions.  Also, she could definitely do better than $700 a month in rent for that dinky apartment.

If I had to create advice for another, I'd say:
-Do everything to the best of your ability, but realize project management and teamwork are as important in life as academics.
-Try everything you can.  Be a different person every day.  Say "yes" to opportunities more than "no".
-Don't be afraid to ask for professional help.  (I didn't utilize my professors, advisors, and the mental health facilities at my school as much as I should have.)
-Question all your expenses - but don't be stingy with life experiences.

[trishume]

If I wanted to tell my 19 year old self something, I could just wait a year. It's nice to see more young people on the forums :D

[Eric]

Arggghhhhh!  If only you were 20!  Don't read this until next year then:

http://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/welcome-to-the-forum/things-you-wish-you-knew-when-you-were-20/

[Goldielocks]

I would tell my 19 year old self to get a useful degree. Probably in computers or business, possibly engineering (although I don't have the best spacial skills, so probably not). I have a fine arts degree, because I had no idea what I wanted and just sort of fell into it.

That's not to say that you can't have a solid future with a fine arts degree, or no degree at all, but unless you have specific goals, pick something useful.

ha!
I would tell my 19 year old self to think twice about picking a career based on the availability of scholarships (low cost education) and best economic payoff. (good paying job and career after 4 years).  Also that being top of the class does not guarantee happiness.

You can't buy happiness, although good financial security is a start, it is not everything, for sure!  Many happy people out there who live on less money and are happy.  It is just as much a state of mind.   Live a little and be free in spirit for at least 1-2 years of your life before you are 25.

Second:
Kids are a huge surprise in how much they fundamentally change your plans (financial and life) and your goals take a walloping lateral spin.   The 0-6 yrs age range are a big black hole for me that I clawed my way out of.

[Beric01]

I'm 24.

I would have told my 19-year-old self to learn to cook sooner (it's a really useful skill)! I would have then told myself to make my own meals in college instead of using the cafeteria - would have saved myself a few grand.

Apply to scholarships! Yes, you'll pay off your student loans just fine (actually I'll have finished paying them this coming January), but it doesn't hurt to apply and save a bit more money.

Read some more books! Learn something new! (I was playing way too many video games at this age).

Other than that, don't stress out so much in life! Your current path you're headed already on will lead you to a good job in a good field. Some healthy concern is okay, but it's okay to enjoy yourself some too! (okay, I still need to remind my current self of this)

[Stlbroke]

I would have told myself to finish college.  And go far away from home and attend a community college to save money.  Get crappy blue collar jobs like roofing to pay for tuition and beer and realize swinging a hammer for a living isn't bad but sitting in an air conditioned office with a degree is probably a lot better.  With this you could learn a skill to always fall back on. Graduate and take a year off to travel and sow some wild oats. It doesn't get any easier in life than at that age.  Afterwards move back home and save cash until I absolutely have to move out.  Then buy a duplex with cash and live for free and have my neighbors give me a monthly check.

[Bateaux]

Put your money in a fruit company.

[marty998]

LOL Astatine.

Definitely agree with 1. Quickest way to grow up and discover who you truly are as a person is to leave the nest.

I should have done it sooner.

[TheNorwegianGuy]

1) Enjoy it, go out and live! The student years may be the greatest in your life, if you just let it! Engage yourself in student activities, get to know new people and dont worry, you will do just fine! Grades does not matter that much that you have to sacrifise some of the best years of your life! (Noone will even look at your grades and you will still get a well paid job).

2) Work through the student period. Not too much, but it doesnt take much to turn the whole personal economy around and maybe even live without any student dept (prob easier in Norway)

3) You will meet an awesome girl in about 2 years from now. You will fall in love with her. Please, for the love of god, do not mess it up! Take the chance! Trust me - trust yourself! If not you will regret it, and she will marry someone else three years later.

[Dee]

When I was younger (more like in my early 20s than 19 though), I read some personal finance books and understood many of the concepts. But I had trouble making headway in applying the concepts because I had a mental block on what was meant by "savings." They all said I should have some savings, put some income into savings, etc. Where I blocked was that I had student loan debt. So I couldn't see any of my income being "savings" (surplus) unless my net worth was positive (i.e. my debt was already paid off). The books I read at the time were not clear that you could nonetheless call the money you put aside and didn't spend "savings" even though you still had debt. So just that one misunderstanding meant that I remained dazed and confused about the basics of personal finance (or just made excuses not to have "savings") for a long time.

Other than that... I'm not sure there's much I could tell my 19-year-old self that she didn't already know -- like that smoking is a stupid, unnecessary expense.

I suppose the one piece of advice that I my 19-year-old self might have been receptive to hearing (especially from a future self) would have been that my mother isn't right about everything and it's OK to have different ideas than hers and think for myself.

[Trimatty471]

So many things.  I would tell myself that it was okay to change my major.
Not to worry about going into debt for college.
Get to know as many people as possible.
Get involved.

[Helvegen]

Not sure. I can't say I live with many regrets.

[kestnuts]

I think If I could do it differently, I would have just worked and saved money until I was 25 and could file the FAFSA (financial aid application here in the states) as an independent student. Instead I spent two years spending every spare penny paying for school, or paying to commute to school, and ended up dropping out because I was so burnt out. Huge mistake.

I wouldn't have gotten involved with the toxic women I did at that age, and wasted my time on relationships that were doomed from the start.

I would have started living frugally and saving money sooner.

[MandalayVA]

Mine doesn't sound like it would affect my financial situation, but not doing this cost me my twenties:

1) Move out of home. Doesn't matter where or how, just do it.

2) Go into therapy and cut off ALL contact with family asap.

3) Ditch the relationship (seriously, you'll lose 18 years of your life and he's NOT GOOD FOR YOU)

4) Stay single until family issues sorted well enough.

5) Remember that you are not a robot. Feelings are actually real and valid. Logic is a super useful tool but should not be used for everything.

Jesus.  Apparently I have an Australian doppelganger.

I would add:

When choosing your major, don't make it "heavy drinking."  Don't minor in dope smoking, either.

Think about if you REALLY like school.  If you don't, then don't go.  As you can find elsewhere on this site there are plenty of jobs that don't require a degree but pay well if you're willing to work.

[socaso]

My advice is particular to women but I have been giving it to a young co-worker recently (she's 21.) Learn to stand up for yourself at work. Don't let fear of confrontation stop you from learning to speak up for what you want. In fact, every time you feel that knot of fear in your stomach that's a pretty good sign that you need to confront exactly the thing you want to turn away from. This impacts your financial life because if you are not getting raises and promotions and opportunities then you will end up far behind in the financial game. I've seen so many women in different workplaces get bitter and unhappy and become bad employees because they perceived that they were being passed over but they shared some of the blame for not speaking up.

Also start identifying early on what things in your life are truly important to you and therefore worth spending money on vs. thing that you don't care too much about and can scrimp on. My personal examples are travel is worth it but cars aren't for me.

[AJ]

I have found that getting what you want in life is the easy part - it's figuring out what you actually want that is tricky. Once you know your goal, it's pretty simple to reverse engineer the path and just do a, b, and c to get there. But if you don't know what you really want, no amount of hard work will get you there.

To that end, I would my 19 year old self to find a counselor or therapist and pay for just a few visits, even if you don't need it. Just tell the counselor you want to make sure you're starting your adult life off on the right foot and go from there. They will ask you questions, and as you answer them it will help you clarify your wants and goals. They can't tell you what you want, but they know what questions to ask to help you figure it out for yourself. Might even be free at your school.

[Frugalicious]

Take the full scholarship to the community college instead of the half scholarship to the private college.  It will save you so much money and so much life.  Don't be so snooty.

Finish college the first time instead of the third time.  Otherwise, you'll be playing catch up for years.

Don't be in such a rush to "grow up."  Try to accept that you don't know everything and that people who are older than you have valuable life experience.

[kestnuts]

My advice is particular to women but I have been giving it to a young co-worker recently (she's 21.) Learn to stand up for yourself at work. Don't let fear of confrontation stop you from learning to speak up for what you want. In fact, every time you feel that knot of fear in your stomach that's a pretty good sign that you need to confront exactly the thing you want to turn away from. This impacts your financial life because if you are not getting raises and promotions and opportunities then you will end up far behind in the financial game. I've seen so many women in different workplaces get bitter and unhappy and become bad employees because they perceived that they were being passed over but they shared some of the blame for not speaking up.

Also start identifying early on what things in your life are truly important to you and therefore worth spending money on vs. thing that you don't care too much about and can scrimp on. My personal examples are travel is worth it but cars aren't for me.

Why is that advice particular to women? People of both sexes struggle with being assertive when they need to be, myself included.

[rocketpj]

First I would give my 19 year old self a good smack for thinking that his credit card was a good idea.

Then, in order:

1.  Don't buy a car you can't pay cash for.  Don't buy a car at all if you can manage it - and think hard about ways to manage it.  Giant cash sucking beasts, even the cheap ones.
2.  Think hard about school.  Don't rush into it, and definitely don't go into debt to take some kind of program you don't even really want just because you don't know what else to do.  There is no set path to success - but slacking your way through a bogus degree with a pile of debt at the end is a fairly well travelled path to hardship.
3.  Don't be afraid to try things, even at risk of major failure.  Being young is all about taking risks - especially if you are business oriented. 
4.  Birth control is the most important technology available to you at this time and over the next 10 years.  Try not to have kids until you have a few things in place - a home, a career, a life partner.  Of course, life goes on if stuff happens, but kids mean you are no longer the most important person in your life for a few years, and it takes over everything.  It's also great, but not if you aren't ready.
5.  Get outside your comfort zone.  All your high school friends and habits are great, but don't make decisions based on what your friends are doing.  I have seen too many of my friends stagnate for 20 years because they get locked into a way of thinking and living that is more or less exactly like all their peers.
6.  Just because you have $100 doesn't mean you have to spend it, even if you have another cheque coming in a few days. 

[arebelspy]

Some previous threads on this, if you want to read other's opinions/advice:
http://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/ask-a-mustachian/what-advice-would-you-give-a-30-year-old/
http://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/forum/welcome-to-the-forum/things-you-wish-you-knew-when-you-were-20/

[CptCool]

Put your money in a fruit company.

There's always money in the banana stand

[domustachesgrowinhouston]

My advice is particular to women but I have been giving it to a young co-worker recently (she's 21.) Learn to stand up for yourself at work. Don't let fear of confrontation stop you from learning to speak up for what you want. In fact, every time you feel that knot of fear in your stomach that's a pretty good sign that you need to confront exactly the thing you want to turn away from. This impacts your financial life because if you are not getting raises and promotions and opportunities then you will end up far behind in the financial game. I've seen so many women in different workplaces get bitter and unhappy and become bad employees because they perceived that they were being passed over but they shared some of the blame for not speaking up.

Also start identifying early on what things in your life are truly important to you and therefore worth spending money on vs. thing that you don't care too much about and can scrimp on. My personal examples are travel is worth it but cars aren't for me.

Why is that advice particular to women? People of both sexes struggle with being assertive when they need to be, myself included.

+1 if you replace "women" with "people" you can double the great advice.

[Beric01]

My advice is particular to women but I have been giving it to a young co-worker recently (she's 21.) Learn to stand up for yourself at work. Don't let fear of confrontation stop you from learning to speak up for what you want. In fact, every time you feel that knot of fear in your stomach that's a pretty good sign that you need to confront exactly the thing you want to turn away from. This impacts your financial life because if you are not getting raises and promotions and opportunities then you will end up far behind in the financial game. I've seen so many women in different workplaces get bitter and unhappy and become bad employees because they perceived that they were being passed over but they shared some of the blame for not speaking up.

Also start identifying early on what things in your life are truly important to you and therefore worth spending money on vs. thing that you don't care too much about and can scrimp on. My personal examples are travel is worth it but cars aren't for me.

Why is that advice particular to women? People of both sexes struggle with being assertive when they need to be, myself included.

+1 if you replace "women" with "people" you can double the great advice.

Well said. I really struggle with being assertive at work, particularly with most people I work with being 15-20 years older than me. I know it's something I need to work on, so right now I'm researching salary negotiations. I've gotten excellent reviews for the past two years, the company is doing well, I put in overtime voluntarily, and yet my raises have only been in line with inflation. I need to speak up for myself.

[ketchup]

I was 19 in 2010, so I'd tell myself to buy Bitcoin.  I had a few grand saved up.

Think like an investor, not a spender.  $100 spent on some nifty toy even if you "can afford it" is still $100 not invested.  That's $100 less you will have in your lifetime to invest.  Your future earnings are not a faucet to keep turning on and dumping down the drain, it is a reservoir that you would be remiss to not preserve.

Related: saving-to-spend is not saving at all.  I was bad about this.  Luckily though, it's still a delayed-gratification mindset that can be tweaked.

[cpa cat]

"Just go to business school. You'll love it there." It look me a long time to figure out what I wanted to do. My mom is a Sociologist and she was ideologically opposed to Fat Cats and Capitalism. It scared me off from trying out business-oriented subjects. It was only later that I learned that my true self is a Fat Cat Capitalist.

So my true advice to 19 years olds who are not me - be wary of how your parents' biases are influencing your choices. Explore opposing view points. Maybe your parents are right, maybe they're wrong - you don't really know until you test the waters for yourself.

"Throw all that junk out." There was no material object that I owned that was really worth keeping long-term (except the cat). I moved to the States when I was 20 and had to pare down my belongings to just a few boxes to mail. But I could have done better! In retrospect, all I should have packed was one box of the best stuff, the cat and a suitcase for clothes.

So the lesson there is: If it's not worth moving, it's not worth buying. And most things aren't worth moving.

[NICE!]

1) Volunteer for a 1 year job out of country to build up assets.
2) Travel to SE Asia, Antarctica, and South America, if possible. If not, SE Asia at a minimum.
3) Eat better, you can't use exercise as an excuse for a terrible diet. You will stop exercising as much, your metabolism will slow down, and you will gain some weight.
4) Don't feel held back by societal norms & upbringing to chase after a few enjoyable things you wanted to do but are now precluded from doing.

[Beric01]

2) Travel to SE Asia, Antarctica, and South America, if possible. If not, SE Asia at a minimum.

Advice to your rich 19-year-old self? Any travel at all at that age meant more student loans. Of course, now that I'm working I try to take 1 international vacation a year, even if it's around 10% of my annual spending. I want to both get perspective on the world and decide on my FIRE location.

[Spartana]

I like how my life turned out so would probably say "do what I did" :-)! Only difference would be to stay in the Coast Guard a full 20 for the pension and medical benefits and ability to retire at 38 instead of my "elderly" ER at 42 and having to wait until 50 for that government pension. And don't get married so young and while on active duty, wait until after I was retired and out of the service. Plus I get that added bonus of "a man in every port" if I had stayed single :-)!

[sobezen]

•Take great care of your mind and body. Exercise your mind and body daily.  Make time to develop a positive outlook, flexible body and strong spirit.
•Be bold and take more calculated risks.  Allow your passions to lead you to uncharted opportunities.  Leave no opportunity, unexplored.
•Nourish your dreams. Never give up! Be persistent. Some of the greatest leaders and innovators thought differently overcoming failure and ridicule.
•Be curious.  Question how things (medicine, government, businesses, et al) work.  Understand often times businesses and government have their own agendas. Develop intellectual curiosity, think critically, read a lot, and explore.
•Be a student of the market.  Read and learn about personal finance.  No one will ever care more about your money than you will.
•Starting saving 50% of your monies regularly, invest in low cost index funds (Vanguard's VTSAX).  Allow your monies to compound. Don't touch it.
•The greatest thing money can buy is financial freedom.  Consider this, if time and money were no object, what would you do with your life?
•Make time for your family and those you love. No one lives forever, so tell them you care, while you still can.
•Laugh a lot. Develop laughter in your life. Learn to see challenges as opportunities and laugh at your fears.
•Be patient with yourself.  Growth takes time.  Time heals all wounds, especially if you reflect and learn from your experiences.
•People will let you down in life. Forgive others, your parents, friends and especially yourself. Become your greatest champion not worst critic.
•Protect your mind from toxic people, negativity, naysayers and hedonism.
•Develop compassion, empathy and generosity by practicing active listening.  Speak less.
•Deeds not words.  Talking is easy to do. ' What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say'.
•Learn from everyone.  Observe their strengths, adopt what works discard what does not.  Read and learn from others success and challenges.
•Be humble and understand it is ok to ask for help.  No one is perfect. Everyone needs a helping hand sooner or later.
•Run towards your fears. Embrace them. On the other side of your greatest fears lives your greatest life.
•Learn to feel uncomfortable. Life is not easy nor is it meant to be. Acknowledge the challenge, embrace it, learn what you can and power on!
•Share with others, volunteer, mentor and dedicate time to enrich the lives of people around you.
•Strive to live a happy and meaningful life by focusing on experiences and helping others; you will create amazing memories.
•Give your very best in life!  Make no excuses. Work smarter, stay hungry and keep moving forward! 

You are embarking on an amazing journey, enjoy every minute of it! 

Always remember, 'Your time is limited.  Don't waste it living someone else's life.'  So, live your life with no regrets.

Cheers!  :)

[trailrated]

Do everything the same. Life is good, learn from the bad, continue to appreciate what you have and never stop growing.

[deborah]

Another thread http://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/ask-a-mustachian/what%27s-your-highest-roi/ said the best return on investment was floss.

Filling- $200
Crown-$1700
Implant- $3000

Floss- $1

Get into healthy habits that will save you money in medical and dental expenses for the rest of your life.

[MrsPete]

To 19-year old me:  You're making great choices.  Things are tough right now, but you're just paying your dues.  Stay the course, and life will be so much better in the future. 

[Prepube]

"What the fuck did you get married for?  Stop screwing around and go to school!  You bought WHAT kind of car?  Sell it, dumbass, you're going to need that money in 33 years.  YOU are divorcing her now?  But she has a JOB and you don't.  You can borrow money for school at 1%?  Go get in line and get some more!  Invest in Apple!  I don't care if the Commodore 64 has better games, go get some Apple stock!  And Microsoft.  Buy that too."  (I was 19 in 1980).

The whole idea of growing up is that you get to make some mistakes.  Don't worry what you'd tell yourself at 19.  Save now, set goals now, be frugal now so you can enjoy it later.  I'm in my 50s and don't have to worry because of that philosophy.  Just do it whatever your age is.

[daymare]

Oh man, I second the flossing.  Cavities/fillings - that shit's expensive.

And also - wear sunscreen.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/chi-schmich-sunscreen-column-column.html

[joeeffect]

Damn there's a lot of great posts here. Thanks everyone for your advice. I guess I should talk about myself a bit, my favorite hobbies are powerlifting, cooking, and reading. I probably read a book/week from the library and I do floss (learned that lesson from braces for 5 years) thanks for the suggestion haha. My major is psychology and my goal is to help people overcome addiction. I think the biggest challenges I'm looking forward to are becoming better at approaching and being comfortable with any situation (mostly watching RSD videos for this) and doing DIY stuff, growing up I never really created many things, wasn't very artistic at all and spent most of my childhood playing video games and reading. Always loved learning, whether it's political philosophy or chemistry. And to the guys who said it's fine to change your major, thanks for the support I have changed my major from compsci even though my mom keeps nagging me that I should do something with computers because of the money but I took a programming class and felt drained not being in contact with people and working alone so I figure I should do something where I can help people one on one.

[gimp]

Dump her, you fucking idiot, you know it's the right thing to do.

That was five years ago. Most of the things I know now that I didn't know then come from years of practice, so telling wouldn't do much good - I guess the names of certain designs, components, suppliers, and manufacturers would have saved me a lot of money.

[manonfire1007]

Do it exactly the same, minus buying one house pre bubble. Tell more people where to stick it.

[MoneyCat]

I would tell my 19 year old self to not become a teacher and instead get a degree in IT so I would make a lot more money with fewer hours and a lot less responsibility.

[manonfire1007]

Oh, and learn how to make money from people not flossing.
Check.😃

[Pigeon]

My 19 year old self was OK.  I would point out to my younger self to start saving as soon as I got out of college.  And the married years pre-kids are prime saving years.  Don't fritter it away on junk.  It gets harder once kids are part of the equation.

[Gone Fishing]

Taxes, understand taxes.  If you think you understand them, you are wrong.  This could make years difference in your FIRE.

[cpa cat]

Taxes, understand taxes.  If you think you understand them, you are wrong.  This could make years difference in your FIRE.

I went back to school for accounting at 27. All the 19 year-olds in Intro to Taxation thought it was the lamest, most boring subject in the world. Only the non-trads cared about tax.

We tried to tell them that of the things they study, Taxation was the subject that was likely to have the biggest direct financial impact on their lives. Sadly, we did not get many converts.

[LibrarIan]

Be more physically active. Video games are awesome, but in moderation.

Do what you love. Taking jobs for money might be financially beneficial, but what about your mental state?

Focus on as few things as possible at a time. You'll get fewer things done, but the things you do get done will be done well.