Save at least 10 cents out of every dollar. 15 cents, 20 cents even better. Start with your very first job as a teenager, but if not then, in your 20s. Act like that money doesn’t exist, just put it away. You’ll thank me decades from now
Take care of your TEETH. Not appearance, I’m not talking about teeth whitening or slapping plastic veneers over raggedy or ‘ugly’ teeth, but going to the dentist and getting your gums and teeth healthy as can be. If you have cavities and can’t afford to get them filled, use peroxide as a mouthwash/rinse (follow instructions on bottle), save your coins, and see a dentist
Don’t get FAT, but if you are fat then get that excess off you. Do not believe or trust anyone who tells you being fat is ok, because they don’t GAF about you, your health, your future, your very life. HAES is a lie that people will continue to die from until folks get real about the harm obesity causes
Don’t smoke cigarettes. Or vape! Of course you can get cancer from smoking and die, but I’m also talking about just plain breathing problems. Smoking/vaping will wreck your lungs and make your later life much worse than it has to be. I’m middle-aged and every single person I know my age group who smoked in their 20s, even ones who stopped later on, have significant respiratory problems now. It’s not worth it, it’s just not. Find some other way to soothe stress, relieve emotions, or comfort youself.
Don’t drive drunk. Don’t even risk it. Make the decision ahead of time that if you’re gonna drink, get a ride share to and from. I wouldn’t even rely on designated drivers. They’ll probably end up drinking too. (my college town was nuts)
Everything is made up and the points really don’t matter. If I had learned that in my 20s life would have been so much happier. Who you worked for, who you dated , who you slept with or the thing you wanted- it doesn’t matter. What matters are your values, how you treat people, how you treat yourself. Trying to get a “good job” to impress, only to be miserable is the exact opposite of what I’d do now.
You know those friends that you think are ahead of you? The ones that have the big jobs, houses,
marriage, kids. A lot of them are going to be divorced or burned out of those careers and feeling lost around 40. Just like you might feel now. It’s a long life. It can feel like failure while you’re in it but, especially when you’re young, time spent trying on different hats, exploring different relationship and making mistakes isn’t wasted. It’s exactly what your 20s are for.
Grow up. Pay attention.Take the cotton out of your ears and put it in your mouth. Stop thinking you are smarter than you are. We olders know better. Stop presuming you are due a house. Open a Savings Account if you want a house.
Take the time to be an adult before having kids. Best time in the world if finding things about yourself and who you want to be without the pressure of having a child.
The world or anyone doesn’t owe you anything. Stop relying on others especially for financial support. What happened to you as a child was not your fault but it does become your responsibility as a adult. Stop blaming others, go to therapy.
Try not to grow up too fast. Yes, you’re an adult now, but that doesn’t mean you need to settle for a lesser person for a significant other or start spitting out babies because all of your friends are doing it.
Have fun. Travel. Learn new things. Try new things. Meet new people. Figure out who you are and who you want to be and go for it!
I have given this advice often, to my own kids and countless people starting their careers: Save something from day one. Your paycheck may seem small, and 5 or 10% of it seems like nothing…. But 40 years of growth and maybe you can have the option to retire early. If your company matches 401k contributions, save enough to get all that free money. Play the long game.
Meet people and say yes to activities. Even if you don’t want to go. You never know if you will meet a future partner, a new friend, someone with connections in your field, whatever.
I could write a novel but perhaps most important is to get off your phone and spend time with people you care about and who you enjoy being with, to create stronger relationships and to create memorable experiences.
Sometimes in life, you are responsible for changing your choices and circumstances; not because you are to blame, but because you are the only person who can. No one else can save you.
Just elope. Marriage is underrated, weddings are overrated. Your moms will get over it. Save the money for a down payment or something. Have a lower-stakes party later.
Don’t be financially dependent on someone else if you can help it. Financial dependence opens people up to abusive situations, or at least to bad situations they can’t easily get out of.
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If you can learn calculus, you’ll never have to worry about money.
Learn towards working towards several goals at once. Do a little every day to get better
life tip: start saving money now.
cultural: stop being babies about black & white movies & TV.
Discipline your kids so they’re not a-holes
Don’t drive drunk. Don’t even risk it. Make the decision ahead of time that if you’re gonna drink, get a ride share to and from. I wouldn’t even rely on designated drivers. They’ll probably end up drinking too. (my college town was nuts)
Everything is made up and the points really don’t matter. If I had learned that in my 20s life would have been so much happier. Who you worked for, who you dated , who you slept with or the thing you wanted- it doesn’t matter. What matters are your values, how you treat people, how you treat yourself. Trying to get a “good job” to impress, only to be miserable is the exact opposite of what I’d do now.
You know those friends that you think are ahead of you? The ones that have the big jobs, houses,
marriage, kids. A lot of them are going to be divorced or burned out of those careers and feeling lost around 40. Just like you might feel now. It’s a long life. It can feel like failure while you’re in it but, especially when you’re young, time spent trying on different hats, exploring different relationship and making mistakes isn’t wasted. It’s exactly what your 20s are for.
Grow up. Pay attention.Take the cotton out of your ears and put it in your mouth. Stop thinking you are smarter than you are. We olders know better. Stop presuming you are due a house. Open a Savings Account if you want a house.
Never send identifiable nudes. To anyone. Ever.
Once you share them, you have zero control over what happens to them. For the rest of your life, and beyond.
Is it something you want your grandma to see? Your grandson? No? Don’t do it.
You might absolutely trust the person you are sharing them with right now, but things change.
Don’t take wooden nickles..
Take the time to be an adult before having kids. Best time in the world if finding things about yourself and who you want to be without the pressure of having a child.
Stay out of debt as long as you can, and travel!!
Don’t stress enjoy life. You get a long time ahead of you
Meditate.
The world or anyone doesn’t owe you anything. Stop relying on others especially for financial support. What happened to you as a child was not your fault but it does become your responsibility as a adult. Stop blaming others, go to therapy.
Save your money – even if it’s just a little it adds up over time.
Dump the loser, you’re young, you can do better
Have boundaries
A great therapist is amazing, will teach you how to have good coping skills and prevent future trauma
Stop smoking, vapes included
Don’t take out loans and credit cards with high interest rates
Get a degree in something that will actually make you money. You can go back to school for your passion
You’re not owed anything so don’t expect that. Don’t let people guilt you into feeling you owe them either.
Don’t get married.
Try not to grow up too fast. Yes, you’re an adult now, but that doesn’t mean you need to settle for a lesser person for a significant other or start spitting out babies because all of your friends are doing it.
Have fun. Travel. Learn new things. Try new things. Meet new people. Figure out who you are and who you want to be and go for it!
Park at the end of the parking lot and get that walk in every day.
Finish your education and save as much money as you can
I have given this advice often, to my own kids and countless people starting their careers: Save something from day one. Your paycheck may seem small, and 5 or 10% of it seems like nothing…. But 40 years of growth and maybe you can have the option to retire early. If your company matches 401k contributions, save enough to get all that free money. Play the long game.
Avoids risks that involve health or children (birth control fails for someone every single day)
Meet people and say yes to activities. Even if you don’t want to go. You never know if you will meet a future partner, a new friend, someone with connections in your field, whatever.
Floss your teeth!!! Use RELIABLE birth control.
I could write a novel but perhaps most important is to get off your phone and spend time with people you care about and who you enjoy being with, to create stronger relationships and to create memorable experiences.
Sometimes in life, you are responsible for changing your choices and circumstances; not because you are to blame, but because you are the only person who can. No one else can save you.
save.
Just elope. Marriage is underrated, weddings are overrated. Your moms will get over it. Save the money for a down payment or something. Have a lower-stakes party later.
Don’t be financially dependent on someone else if you can help it. Financial dependence opens people up to abusive situations, or at least to bad situations they can’t easily get out of.
Get moving! Time’s a wasting!
Put down the phone. Learn to entertain yourself without it. Limit the amount of time you spend on social media.
Stay single.
Wear a swimsuit all the time and spend more time looking at yourself in the mirror because you are frikken gorgeous!