If you were 25 again, what would you do differently?

[ExcuseMyIgnorance]

You guessed it. I'm 25 and trying to live without regrets. A lot of older people tell me to travel while I'm young and 'enjoy' life. But that costs money and I love compounding interest so spending money while I'm young doesn't seem like the best idea.

But anyway, is there anything I should be doing now that you wished you would have done at 25?

[Randomsaver]

I think you're asking more about saving advice? Or life in general?

[ExcuseMyIgnorance]

Life in general.

[Randomsaver]

The less one's pride is in a relationship, the better, especially if you like the girl (or guy).

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[ExcuseMyIgnorance]

i'm also 25 and i'm depressed for my life, because my work is not that good and i have to work long hours in the office with low income. i wanna have a boyfriend.

I'm a boy.

I'd find a better job ASAP. You don't want to wake up one day with a mountain of regrets. After all, your job is where you spend most of your waking hours.

[GrimJack]

Sigh, I think I would probably do more acid.

[Ima saver]

Well, I am a lot older. I believe that it is not what you makes that counts, it is what you keep! I would save at least 10% of my income and invest it in mutual funds. I reccommend Vanguard Index 500. (I also would spend less time shopping at malls)

[FLA]

I wish my ex's bad personality traits had shown up before we had the stress of kids and he became an angry little man who spent the next 20 yrs making my life miserable. However, I did not see these traits (because they are well hidden until he has stress). Had I seen them at 25, I would not have gotten pregnant that year and gotten a divorce instead. Had I known the emotional, physical and financial repercussions to come, I would've saved myself and my children from pretty much a monster. I say this even knowing I would not have my exact same children had I married a different man.

My plan had been not to marry until I was 30, I should've done that. I'm glad more kids are waiting til their 30s to marry.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

had kids earlier.

[Butterscotch]

I would have traveled more. Once you have kids, or even a serious relationship it is harder to get away and also more expensive. You have to coordinate time off with people, kids missing school...When I was 25 I should have just gone where I wanted to, when I wanted to. There is always money to be made, but youth and good health/energy are not promised for long. I didn't get married until 31 and kids didn't come until 33, so Im not sure what stopped me back then, but if I woke up tomorrow in 2005 I would be on the flight out of town.

[dawnwes]

I would have purchased a townhouse or small house at 25 if I had it to do over again. It would be worth a fortune now (Los Angeles). And I would have rented out rooms until I got married.

But I was not ready to buy and settle down as a single.

I got married at 29 and we did buy our first house when we were 32. We should have rented that one out and bought another, but we sold it and then bought another.

But there was no way to know when or if the market would skyrocket like it did.

[Fishindude77]

Don't sit still waiting around for a job opportunity.
Be willing to relocate right away, as necessary. Go where the money is.

[DaveInPgh]

earlier I read the book and meditated

And now you are spamming a message board. A mellow way to spend a day

[annibe11e]

Don't waste time and energy on things that aren't working. Bad relationships, jobs, friendships. Carefully curate things in your life so you are surrounded with good.

I've been pretty good about ditching bad relationships, but I've seen people stay in crappy situations (like my parent's 23 year unhappy marriage). It's not worth it. You get one life (YOLO!) so always move forward toward good.

Travel if you can. Make some mistakes. Get out of your hometown (even if you ultimately decide to go back). Think long and hard about whether you want kids and when. It's the most permanent decision of your life. Take care of your health and enjoy your youth and energy. There will be a tipping point when age will catch up and you will never again be at your peak. Realize that you will become wiser with age, but right now you will do some stupid stuff and that's ok. Learn from it. Don't take things personally. It's a huge drain on your mental and emotional energy. What people say and do is about them, not you. Cultivate empathy and compassion, but don't put up with crap.

[Jody Lynn]

Yes I would definitely do it differently, I will travel more and will save more. Now that I have a family of my own it's hard to save money because it all goes to our house, car, kids, etc.