# What would you like to tell your younger financial self?
**URL:** https://forum.mustachianpost.com/t/what-would-you-like-to-tell-your-younger-financial-self/3359
**Category:** Share your story
**Created:** [March 1, 2020, 3:59pm UTC](https://forum.mustachianpost.com/t/what-would-you-like-to-tell-your-younger-financial-self/3359 "2020-03-01T15:59:47Z")
**Posts on this page:** 6
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Neville](https://forum.mustachianpost.com/u/Neville)
#### Post date: [March 1, 2020, 3:59pm UTC](https://forum.mustachianpost.com/t/what-would-you-like-to-tell-your-younger-financial-self/3359/1 "2020-03-01T15:59:48Z")
Not all of us have always been true mustachians aiming for FIRE, I reckon.
In my 20s, being a student, I naturally had little to no money. I had to be frugal. Little room for wasting money. Little room for investing, too.
I got my first “real” job after university in my late 20s, and that’s when I started investing in outrageously expensive, actively managed strategy funds that my bank marketed and sold to me. Over the years, the funds prospered and made me some money, however at a TER of around 1.6-1.8%.
In my 30s I was more preoccupied with building my career. Luckily, I continued to occasionally invest in my strategy funds. I was not exactly living a lavish lifestyle but was also less aware of money than I wish I had been. Some sort of “financially ignorant bliss”. I was flying on autopilot.
It’s only now, in my early 40s, that I turned my serious attention towards my financials. That also sparked an interest for the topic. I started reading, devouring finance books and newspaper articles, and discovering blogs and forums.
In hindsight, I did start early enough with investing, albeit not with the awareness and discipline and financial vehicles that I would recommend to my younger self. But then, better late than never!
I guess many here are a bit younger still, but what would you like to tell your younger financial self?
Me: educate yourself in finance, take control, be aware of where your money goes and what becomes of it.
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### Author:  [@ma0](https://forum.mustachianpost.com/u/ma0)
#### Post date: [March 1, 2020, 4:21pm UTC](https://forum.mustachianpost.com/t/what-would-you-like-to-tell-your-younger-financial-self/3359/2 "2020-03-01T16:21:42Z")
Just one thing probably: get the freaking master!
Improve your salary is better than improving your saving rate…
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### Author:  [@Neville](https://forum.mustachianpost.com/u/Neville)
#### Post date: [March 1, 2020, 4:26pm UTC](https://forum.mustachianpost.com/t/what-would-you-like-to-tell-your-younger-financial-self/3359/3 "2020-03-01T16:26:05Z")
Right!
That was part of my “autopilot flight mode”, luckily: finish your studies and get out of university.
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### Author:  [@1000000CHF](https://forum.mustachianpost.com/u/1000000CHF)
#### Post date: [March 1, 2020, 6:00pm UTC](https://forum.mustachianpost.com/t/what-would-you-like-to-tell-your-younger-financial-self/3359/4 "2020-03-01T18:00:38Z")
We already had that thread. Here’s my previous response (I still agree with myself):
> [@Advice to your 25-year old self?](https://forum.mustachianpost.com/t/advice-to-your-25-year-old-self/1796/5):
>
> Lots of advices. On financial side: earn, save and invest. On the career side: learn more and practice marketable skills (like team leadership). On the life side: eat healthy, do sports, don’t stress (or at least relax and meditate), don’t overblow your expectations, try new things and explore, focus on important things: well being of yourself, your family and your friends; finally, find happiness in simple pleasures of life. PS. Work on your habits and your relationships. Both self-improveme…
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### Author:  [@Neville](https://forum.mustachianpost.com/u/Neville)
#### Post date: [March 2, 2020, 10:27am UTC](https://forum.mustachianpost.com/t/what-would-you-like-to-tell-your-younger-financial-self/3359/5 "2020-03-02T10:27:07Z")
> [@1000000CHF](#):
>
> We already had that thread.
Ah, I only went through the “Share your story” section. Apologies for the double thread.
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### Author:  [@1000000CHF](https://forum.mustachianpost.com/u/1000000CHF)
#### Post date: [March 2, 2020, 10:31am UTC](https://forum.mustachianpost.com/t/what-would-you-like-to-tell-your-younger-financial-self/3359/6 "2020-03-02T10:31:52Z")
> [@Neville](#):
>
> Ah, I only went through the “Share your story” section. Apologies for the double thread.
No worries, it happens all the time here. 😉