20 Things I Wish I Knew In My 20’s.

Your twenties are to be enjoyed, to make mistakes and to start figuring out your future. Here is just my personal list of things I wish I knew sooner or I wish I would have practiced a bit more in my 20’s.

1. If you can only get one personal finance book, get The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey. I prefer the audio version.
2. If you live with your parents still (I know many who still do–thanks Salliemae), try to pay off as much debt as you can and or save as much as possible.
3. Ride out that hooptie car until you can’t any more and if you can, avoid a car payment all together. “Act your wage.”
4. You don’t have to attend every event you are invited to just because a friend or a close acquaintance asks. “No” is a full sentence.
5. Sis, you don’t need a new dress for every time you go out, who do we think we are? Focus on less material purchases and more experiences.
6. Only get a master’s degree if it’s going to move you to next the step in your career. Forget the letters, if there is no concrete benefit, skip it.
7. Read as much as you can. Never stop learning.
8. Try more hobbies, learn a new skill.
9. Stop being so hard on yourself.
10. Say yes to the things you are afraid of.
11. Apply for that job you think you are not qualified.
12. You do not need to keep relationships just because of the length you know people.
13. Remove yourself from toxic people, family included. Anything that costs your peace is too expensive.
14. Stop comparing yourself with your friends’ accomplishments, God knows your timing. A grateful mentality will take you far.
15. Keep your personal business to yourself and your therapist, specially when speaking negatively about significant others during a fight. You might forgive but your friends and family won’t.
16. Don’t just vacation but travel as well, learn something new about a different culture and share your own with them.
17. Stop doing things you think you like for the gram. If you are more focused on capturing the moment, you are not enjoying the actual moment.
18. Give back, even if it’s just with your time.
19. Be conscious of your privilege whether in education, career, upbringing, big or small, and check yourself whenever you have to.
20. When you learn something new and useful, share your knowledge, resources, and even your network with others. You are not the gatekeeper of useful information and connections.