When I was 25, I had half a decade until I started feeling my age, a bit of distance from that college-age mentality, and over 5,000 friends on Myspace. I had no children, and I was able to afford a night out at the bar (or two) a week with friends before they all got married and moved away.
Now that I’m staring at 40 in a few years, I’m reflecting on what I wish I knew (and maybe you too) back in the day. When you’re in your post-college 20s, the world is still your oyster—but when you’re moving through your 30s, the oyster closes a little and presents you with different options, some with infinitely more satisfaction than the decade before. And once you’re in your 30s and have kids, there’s no going back to careless nights until the kids are grown and you can let loose with the missus.
So travel back with me to 25, and what I wish I knew—or what I wish I had known better and acted on out of a responsibility I didn’t get until I was 35.
1.) You don’t actually have tobuy any DVDs—so save that money and time.
2.) CDs too—save that money. You’re going to have a wall of CDs that are all loaded onto your laptop or phone, and that wall of CDs isn’t going to go for much at the used record store.
3.) But books are priceless. You can buy books and not feel like you’re wasting money. Books are an investment—you’ll see.
4.) The video store is ripping you off too, and in the future, you’ll be spending alittle less time picking out movies than you do now because the “video store” will just be a red box outside a 7-11 or a CVS. Or the movies will all be online. Just you wait.
5.) I wish I knew the importance of building credit and the benefits of getting rewarded. Maybe if I had gone with an American Express, instead of generic cards, I would have been able to manage my spending better and have the things that I really wanted pay for themselves by getting points for my everyday spending.
6.) College debt—let’s talk, younger me. Pay it off, now. Exchange the price of a few coffees a week or take-out for paying off your college loans in a timely fashion. Coffee and take-out prices are going up, as well as the interest on those loans.
7.) You did almost everything the right way with graduate school—but maybe a little too late. You needed a few years in the career before you traded in your nights for an advanced degree. Well done, good buddy.
8.) Saving money—I wish I had known how to really save, not just for retirement, but for the car, kids, house, and vacation. Although we haven’t taken avacation since the age of 25, so there’s that.
9.) Wedding cake doesn’t age well in the freezer for years on end.
10.) All your friends are going to move away—so make the best time with them now (as you are—again, good job, buddy).
11.) Your metabolism slows down around 26 and 27—so trade in those carbs for some extra protein.
12.) Be a giver.
13.) There’s no late night that’s as good as a productive morning.
14.) But sometimes the early bird doesn’t get the worm.
15.) See Dylan once or twice more before the kids come along.
16.) All your money is going to disappear when you have kids—so save as much as you can while you can.
17.) If you have the chance to dine well—whether it’s at the Galleria dell’Accademia or Polcari’s on Route 1, do so.
18.) Take the wife to France. Or a vineyard here in the US. Or sail around an Indonesian archipelago. Or go to a cheese tasting in the Cave of Artisanal Fromagerie.
19.) Or see Hamilton on Broadway while it is the most sought-after show. (Hint: You know that Amex Card we talked about? You’d be able to actually use points for exclusive experiences such as these, as part of their Membership Rewards® 25th Anniversary Collection. Don’t regret that you didn’t do it because you didn’t know.)
20.) But travel with a travel expert—by the time you’re going to get to travel again, the kids will be grown, so get the most out of it that you can.
21.) I wish I had known better mixology—that way I could have made better money bartending than serving. Teachers turn into servers and bartenders in the summers. You already know this.
22.) Invest in a solid mattress and pillow—you’re going to need the rest. Trust me. Sleep is and should be one of the greatest investments of your life.
23.) The greatest part of your life happensafter 25, and as much as you prepare for it, there is no better teacher than life itself, along with kindness and compassion. When you’re 37 you’re going to be very tired but beyond happy with your life and the family you have made.
24.) Simplify—always simplify. Experiences are better than stuff. I’m still wishing I knew how to do this better.
25.) Hey kid—you’re actually doing okay at 25, so don’t panic. Your favorite bar will close (but you’ll outgrow the bar), you and the one you love will have to move (but it will be for the better), and there will be a hundred little things you’ll go through; but between 25 and now you’re going to make a lot of the best decisions correctly, so hold on tight and prepare for adventure.
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Just visit www.americanexpress.com/MR25th and use points for exclusive entertainment, sports and dining experiences–ranging from private dinner inside the Galleria dell’Accademia (Home of Michelangelo’s David), to sought-after tickets to see to marquis artists, bands and theatre performances, including Bob Dylan.
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This post is sponsored by American Express, but all opinions are my own.
“3.) But books are priceless. You can buy books and not feel like you’re wasting money. Books are an investment—you’ll see.” If you’re 25, you’re probably on a limited financial budget, and money can be a bit tight, especially if you’re trying as hard as you can to save some money to invest for the future: Books are often expensive to buy, and bulky to store & move. Public libraries are priceless- they loan you the books for free, you can renew them online (for free) and when you’re done with them they’ll take back the books and store them… Read more »