I feel it is an obligation for any older folk to pass wisdom to those not-in-the-know of things regarding life. Some people are born directionless and they get lost in their lives and before they know it, they’re knee-deep in debt, they’re in awful minimal-wage jobs, they make poor decisions regarding their love lives .etc
I have several and my more prominent one is;
- Know Your Numbers
This is a key and must-have piece of knowledge. You must know your numbers. How much you’ll earn a month, how much your expenses are, how much is in your bank account, interests and much more. I don’t care if you’ve hated math growing up, you will need to know this. Because going off on guesswork and estimations, only gets you so far before you slip up. Once you slip up financially, missing a payment, you will fall behind faster than you’ll get back ahead or break even. As someone said, everyone is one car repair or medical emergency away from being in poverty.
- Do not get kids in your teens and 20s
Your teenage and young adolescent years, are better spent figuring out who you are and what you want to achieve. Recklessly getting kids with someone who you thought you loved or poor planning are reasons people end up paying child support and having to go to family court and having to deal with custody battles for the rest of their lives. Supporting a kid is $250k PER child, that’s the average, moreso because of the economy. Is it really worth the few minutes of sex at all for that expense?
- Avoid Jail
Going to jail, over anything, is a bad setback to have in life. If you think finding a job is hard normally with the way the job market is, it’ll be twice that if you have a criminal record. That is just shit not a lot will be ignored.
You’ll lose time, you’re likely to lose any jobs you’ve had at the time of going to jail, you may polarize family and friends even. It’s just not worth it, regardless. The more times you end up in jail too, consider your life over.
- Thrift and Thrift Away!
Thrifting can be a dirty word to some who prefer to get things new, which I understand. But it is a money-saver in the long run. For example, my apartment is 85% of thrifted items and I have a hard time recalling anything I’ve spent more than $10 for, aside from select things I bought new because I wanted them new, like some appliances.
Just try not to be a hoarder if it can be helped.
Know your financials, income and outflow. Use a credit card for everything but pay it off every month don’t over spend.
Unless you have a full ride scholarship do your general education at a community college.
If you don’t want to go to school join a trade union apprenticeship program. Talk to your local unions while you’re still in highschool so you can be prepared for the process.
IMO electrician > plumber/pipefitter > HVAC > the rest. Carpenter might be above HVAC but I didn’t really talk with any of them. I got hurt in my final year of my plumbing apprenticeship, I did graduate and become a journeyman plumber but left the field shortly after graduation to avoid back surgery. I’m a software engineer now.
Wait for kids. Learn to cook. Exercise. Work hard. Read. No nicotine, cocaine, opioids or other fiercely addictive substances. Everything else in moderation Don’t rush to have sex, but I’m def not advocating waiting till marriage.
Didn’t settle in your relationships, just because you’ve been together a long time doesn’t mean it needs to be forever. I didn’t marry or give up my desire to not have kids with my 5.5 year relationship. Turns out I just didn’t want kids with her. Imeet my wife 3 years later married her after a year and intentionally had a kid the following year(more than 9 months after our wedding thank you very much)
Take care of your teeth!! I get it can be hard to do so if you’re depressed cause I’ve been there. I’ve lost a couple molars cause of it. It’s expensive and sucks. At least try your best to do it once a week if you struggle.
Wear the fucking retainer after braces come off.
Sorry no can do, Old Man! I’ve suffered enough
- Your younger self… Probably
Start exercising. Now. Doesn’t matter how old you are. Find the time. Doesn’t have to be a full blown gym habit, just consistent, makes-you-sweat exercise. It will never be easier to get in the habit.
Don’t compare yourself to others, compare yourself to your own past performance.
30+ here. Drink more water, wear sunscreen, take photos of your friends, and don’t marry someone just because the Wi-Fi is shared
Don’t marry someone just because the Wi-Fi is shared
But there’s no place like 192.168.1.2
Advice that older people give you is just them looking at their own regrets. You may not have the same ones, so take it with a grain of salt. You have your one life to live so do whatever you want.
My only regret is nicotine. All the other stuff I put in my post is about things I’m happy I did right.
Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change
Courage to change the things I can
And wisdom to know the difference
Alternatively, “don’t worry be happy”. There’s a lot to be upset about, but if it doesn’t make things better what’s the point? Extend your sense of self as widely as you can, and try to be patient and kind with the oneness you are a tiny part of. It is so easy to get caught up in empty struggle for struggle’s sake. Always act for love, never from fear. Move towards what you want rather than just away from what you don’t. And no matter who you are, know that I love you and want you to be happy :)
Don’t waste your time on stuff. Waste it on experiences and spending time with people. Relationships are the most important thing. You won’t regret that and it will make your life richer and more fulfilled. Stuff won’t do that.
Touch grass.
… Your teenage and young adolescent years, are better spent figuring out who you are and what you want to achieve…
Spending two decades of your prime on that sounds insane. Can you be thrifty about this?
Start exercise today. Younger folks gain strength and speed much easier than old people. Lack of physical capability kills the elderly, so the more strength and stamina you start with and work to maintain, the longer you will be mobile.
Do cardio and strength exercises. Endurance should be at least 80% of your cardio, that means slow. Brisk walks or slow jogs. For strength training focus on big hinge movements like squats. Start out small, body weight exercises, and go from there. Get some time with a trainer to check your form.
Keep your flexibility… Almost impossible to get out back once it’s gone.
You can do alright, but keeping it is soooooo much easier. It will never get back to what you had if you don’t work to keep it.
Life is hard and stressful whether you’re kind or unkind, so be kind. I don’t mean be a doormat, but don’t be a dick.
Seriously don’t be a dick, just absurdly relevant.
Simple compliments help a lot too. "Nice work!“ or whatever can really make sometimes day!
Don’t confuse someone always being around with friendship. Some people won’t hesitate to drop a dime on you at the first sign of trouble
I’m 29yo, come on, advise me!!!1! WE STILL HAVE TIME!!!
Never too late for a career change. Started my 2nd career at 30. 12 years later I’m the lead software engineer on a large project.
I’m 35 and I should not be advising absolutely anybody.
