If I could hop into a time machine and give a pep talk to my 25-year-old self, I’d start by talking about money.
In my mid-twenties, I saw money as something complicated and stressful — a necessary evil that I didn’t fully understand. I defaulted to living paycheck to paycheck, crossing my fingers that everything would somehow work out.
Sometimes it did, but mostly it led to restless nights and more than a little anxiety.
Over the years, I’ve had my share of wins and losses. I’ve wasted cash on things that gave me zero lasting value, and I’ve also stumbled on simpler ways to grow what I earn and reduce financial worries.
If I’d known then what I know now, I would’ve saved myself a lot of nervous energy and probably had a bit more in the bank.
Here are 7 lessons I’d pass on to that clueless, overconfident (and sometimes underconfident) 25-year-old me.
1. Start investing way earlier
This is the number one thing I’d hammer into my younger self’s head: you don’t have to be rich to invest, but investing is a key step to building lasting wealth.
When I was 25, I thought investing was only for people in suits who spent their lunch breaks reading the stock tables in the newspaper.
It felt distant and a bit intimidating.
But the truth is, you can start with any amount of money.
Even a small monthly contribution to a broad-market index fund can pay big dividends down the line.
Compound interest is like a slow-burning superpower—over the course of a decade or two, those modest investments can balloon far beyond what you initially put in.
Warren Buffett famously said that his wealth has less to do with picking “unicorn stocks” and more to do with starting early and letting compounding do the heavy lifting.
My younger self would’ve rolled his eyes at talk of long-term investing, but it’s one of the best financial decisions you can make.
2. Aim for financial autonomy, not just stability
Back in my corporate days, I was mostly concerned with a steady paycheck.
It felt safe—until I realized that feeling of security was largely an illusion.
If your income hinges entirely on a single source (a single employer, for instance), you’re always at risk of having that rug pulled out from under you.
Financial autonomy means you have a say in how you earn. It might be a side hustle, freelance work, or a small passion project that starts generating a second revenue stream.
This might seem like extra work at first, but it has a liberating effect over time. You realize you’re not stuck, and you can walk away from situations that don’t align with your values or life goals.
I learned this when I co-founded Ideapod. I was taking a risk, but I was also freeing myself from depending solely on a boss or a corporation for my livelihood.
If I had to do it all again, I’d tell my younger self to start diversifying even earlier.
3. Recognize that chasing money can feel like chasing happiness
In my mid-twenties, I had this nagging idea that if I just earned a certain amount, all my problems would vanish.
Of course, earning well can solve immediate money issues — no question about that.
But I learned the hard way that the constant chase for “just a bit more” can turn into a treadmill of discontent.
There’s a video I made on chasing happiness that touches on the psychological trap of thinking you’ll be fulfilled once you reach some distant milestone.
The lesson applies to money, too.
If your only goal is to stack up more cash, you might get there but still feel empty. It’s healthier to see money as a tool, not an end in itself.
My younger self would have done well to recognize that amassing a big bank balance doesn’t necessarily equate to inner peace.
4. Live below your means without feeling deprived
It took me a while to appreciate the freedom that comes with minimalism. I don’t mean you need to live in a tiny house or never indulge in nice things.
Rather, it’s about being intentional with what you spend on and how frequently you spend.
In my twenties, I often felt pressured to keep up appearances — dining at fancy restaurants I couldn’t comfortably afford, buying clothes I didn’t really need, or upgrading my tech just to have the newest gadget.
Those were fleeting thrills.
Real peace of mind came from being able to save more, invest more, and worry less.
By cutting back on things that didn’t truly matter, I created space to enjoy occasional luxuries without guilt.
I would tell my younger self that living below your means doesn’t mean living in permanent austerity. It just means caring about where your money goes and making sure your spending aligns with what truly adds value.
5. Develop a healthy relationship with debt
Debt isn’t always the enemy, but it can become one if you misuse it.
When I was around 25, I thought any debt was a sign of failure, so I’d occasionally panic and avoid dealing with it until it was too big to ignore.
For some folks, debt is a tool to finance education or a mortgage for a home. For others, it’s a black hole of high-interest credit cards and impulse buys.
Understanding the difference between constructive debt (like a reasonable mortgage or an investment in your own professional growth) and destructive debt (like high-interest loans to cover lifestyle inflation) can save you heaps of mental stress.
I learned to watch the interest rates closely.
If you can manage to keep your debt load low—and strategic—you free up mental energy to focus on earning, rather than worrying about how to juggle multiple bills each month.
6. Cultivate money awareness (and track your spending)
I used to groan at the idea of budgeting.
It felt restrictive, like a diet for my wallet. But keeping track of your expenses doesn’t have to be about punishing yourself every time you grab a latte.
It’s about having clarity on where your cash is going.
I began writing down every purchase, from rent to random late-night takeout. This simple exercise showed me the patterns I was oblivious to—like how I was spending more on subscription services than on healthy groceries.
Once I saw those numbers, I could adjust my habits without feeling deprived. Budgeting became less of a chore and more like a regular check-in with myself.
If I could share just one piece of advice with 25-year-old me, I’d say:
“Look, paying attention to your money isn’t tedious. It’s empowering. You can’t improve what you don’t measure.”
Once you know the flow of your money, you can channel it more effectively toward what matters.
7. Don’t let money fears stop you from taking calculated risks
I’ve encountered so many people who stay in jobs they hate or avoid life-changing projects simply because they’re worried about financial uncertainty.
I get it—no one wants to end up broke.
But there’s a difference between reckless gambling and thoughtfully stepping out of your comfort zone.
When I pivoted away from my traditional career path, I was terrified. Yet that leap allowed me to explore new avenues, meet fascinating individuals, and even fail a few times without being ruined.
If I had let fear paralyze me, I’d probably still be stuck in a place that offered security on paper but drained me every day.
So I’d remind my younger self: it’s perfectly okay to feel anxious about money.
Harness that anxiety is a prompt to plan and prepare, not a chain that keeps you from moving. Sometimes, the next big financial breakthrough or fulfilling career move lies on the other side of a calculated risk.
Conclusion
If I could deliver one big message to my 25-year-old self, it would be this: money management isn’t a mysterious skill reserved for experts.
It’s a lifelong journey that involves mindful spending, consistent investing, and a willingness to learn from your mistakes.
Sure, there will be hiccups and maybe even a meltdown or two (I speak from experience). But each bump along the way can teach you something valuable—if you’re open to seeing it.
These seven lessons have helped me shift from a place of constant worry to a more grounded sense of control over my finances. They’re not magic bullets, but they do add up over time.
If you want more reflections on personal growth, philosophy, and challenging mainstream narratives, I invite you to subscribe to my YouTube channel, Wake-Up Call.
After all, learning doesn’t end at 25—or at any age, really. It’s never too late to start building a healthier relationship with money.
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