Money advice from your future self

Save as much as you can

I know you love spending money on things that are fun, taste good and give you a buzz, but it’ll add up. Start spending money on your future by dumping money into your retirement plan before you spend a dime on anything else. After you’ve done that, feel free to budget your money however you feel you should. Building up a nest egg might not seem like a priority right now, but you’ll be glad you did when the time comes.

Pay off that car

So you get a job and the first thing you buy is a new car. That’s understandable, because I know that money was burning a hole in your pocket. Here’s the thing. You’re young, you’re still living at home and you don’t know what bills are. Put as much money on that car as you can every month. Don’t spend 60 months paying off that 60 month loan. Cut it in half and thank yourself later.

Avoid growing debt

As tempting as that credit card might be, you don’t need it. Spend money on things you can afford. Buying things you want just leads to credit card bills that you can’t pay off each month. And that only leads to debt and more debt.

Love what you do

Find something you’re passionate about, and do it for the rest of your life. Sure you may take a pay cut but you’ll be happy every morning when you wake up. Don’t worry about the financial side of it. Just make sure you keep putting money aside for the future. You may have a smaller budget each month but you’ll be able to be happy at work and happy in retirement.

Remember money isn’t success

Think about the people and experiences in your life and remember that those are the most important things. Sure, money gives you options, but at the end of the day how much money is enough? Use money to enrich your life but keep an eye on what’s really important.