Most helpful tip you wish you could go back in time and tell yourself?

[sweet sparrow]

I would have told myself to go on that all expenses paid trip (except for airfare) to Hawaii. Opportunities like that don't come around often!

[Brooke_]

Fully enjoying reading all of this advice as a 21 year old who is living on her own.
I am taking it all in and truly learning from it, a WANT and a NEED is completely different. And I can guarantee the money I am going to save from reading this is substantial!

To find my wife that I am married to now and get married with her and have kids in your early twenties, it really sucks chasing after a 4 year old and a 2 year old at 39.

As for starting a family, I would 100% be willing to do so, now someone find me a man who is also willing? LOL. I nanny a set of 2 year old twins and it makes me wonder..now mention that to my boyfriend and he would probably RUN FAST! I'm assuming you would have done the same (run fast) had your girlfriend wanted kids at age 21!

[AliceStewart21]

the most I want back in university, and tell myself do not waste time and study hard

[ashedfc]

I wish I could unwind the clock couple of years back, & let it stay there forever..
I have no complains from life !, Its just that "Good days seems to move very fast as compared to not so good days"..

[Sunshyne1]

whatever you do, don't co-sign loans/creditcards etc for boyfriends or girlfriends.
If the realtionship ends, and the creditors can't locate your ex, the total amount owed falls to you!!!!

I learned this one the hard way, and I am still paying for it! My best friend went through a similiar thing, and in the end had to declare Bankruptcy in order to get out from under the debt her ex owed.

[harbie]

SAVE SAVE SAVE!

Learn to REEEEALLY define a want vs a need

[ashedfc]

Need is a cell phone' whereas Want is an iPhone 4S..... hope this clarifies..
Need is just a car to provide mobility' whereas want is BMW/Mercedez..

[Retiree]

I would advise those 20 somethings to save even a small amount every week. You may not be able to save a lot but even saving $20 a week will give you $1,040.00 in a year. With that, your investing can begin and you can watch it grow. As your life becomes for financially secure, you can save more and be better prepared to finance your retirement. The key is to start early and to be disciplined about saving something...anything...... regularly.

Very often people think they have to save alot or it isn't worthwhile when in actual fact, every little bit counts.

[roseofblack25]

I'm young so I can't really go back and tell myself much...but I have just moved on my own and am basically living pay cheque to pay cheque which sucks It worries me because I don't have emergency money in my pay cheque and my savings is going towards paying for school without the need for loans. I'm trying (key word is trying) to figure if I can save at least $100 a month in a savings account...but that might not be possible since I figure I will only have around $50 left at the end of the month after all my need expenses are paid. That doesn't include school...*sigh* money worries are super stressful!

[angel_2011]

if i could go back in time, i would tell myself to start couponing!! honestly, i only became aware of couponing after watching the tlc show. Now when i think about it, i can't believe i used to buy diapers, wipes, formula and mostly everything at full retail price!

[Brad]

I'd tell myself to invest all my money in apple stock in 2003, I'd be about 600k richer right now.

Other than that, I'd tell myself to not buy a new car.

[cath007]

Great Thread!!!I would say have a Confortable lifestyle and save where you can!!!

[cath007]

Make sure your career choice is well-considered and can finance and accommodate the life you want. Having a pension helps, too -- most people aren't very disciplined to save for retirement.

If you plan to quit working and stay home with your kids when you have them, maybe going to school for years and completing a bachelor's and master's degree before entering the workforce isn't the best use of time and money.

Get into the real estate market if you can afford to -- it always seems that prices go up eventually.

First sentence if a great point,
I always said to myself no credit cards...even i can afford it....the% of interest if so crazy.....buy things if you can ..not live higher than waht you had.....

[muggos0101]

BUY GOLD!!! As a matter of fact, I should still do that...

[ame555]

Buy life and disability insurance when you are young and healthy...you may not always be healthy