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Words of advice to anyone under the age of 30.
1. The day you get your first full time job is the perfect day to plan for your retirement. Regardless of how little you make now, start saving in some type of retirement plan. You can start by saving only 10% of your income regardless of how much it is. There are many people that can advise you on how to do this so just make sure you find someone that has the expertise to guide you through the process. If you plan early, you can determine if you want to retire at an early age. If you do not plan early, chances are you will never retire or retire 10 years beyond when you prefer to retire.
2.Do these things in this order to save yourself a lot of heartache:
A.Finish your education/training before getting involved in any relationship. Focus on education first, being involved in a relationship will only slow you down & distract you. You will have plenty of time for a serious relationship after you have job skills.
B. Get married before having children. If you are having sex, you can & will most likely get pregnant. The fact is, the younger you are & the less stress you are under, the easier to get pregnant. If you are a guy, how do you know she is taking a pill everyday? Do not allow a mistake to form the entire direction of your life.
C. Have children only after you have already started your career, are married, have sowed your wild oats, are mature enough to be a role model for another human being, & can afford to raise a child.
3. Get a prenuptial agreement prior to getting married. Smart & responsible people plan their future & allow for unexpected situations that might occur. Getting a prenuptial does not mean you plan to get a divorce anymore than buying life insurance means you plan to die before the age of 45. The simple fact is 50% of American’s end up getting a divorce so it is stupid to not insure that you have protected yourself from something that has a 50-50 chance of occurring. You need to define what assets such as retirement are given to whom etc.
I am sure others can add to this list so feel free to do so.
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Re: Words of advice to anyone under the age of 30.
I feel you on these. But as a wise man said, "Man Plans, God Laughs."
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Re: Words of advice to anyone under the age of 30.
Yeah..its good advice, but its not practical. If you meet the person of yoru dreams, and are stil lin school, it is unreasonable to think you would blow him off just to complete yoru education. Because if he in in fact the man of yrou dreams..he can help bring you up, strengthen you and help you complete school at the same time.
And suggestign abstinence is just foolish. And even on the BEST birth control on the planet, accidents can happen.
My theory: Make a plan, prepare to adjust it as nessessary.
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Re: Words of advice to anyone under the age of 30.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
madmaxine
I feel you on these. But as a wise man said, "Man Plans, God Laughs."
"A man is a master of his plan"
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Re: Words of advice to anyone under the age of 30.
Yep, I was going to stay single and focused during nursing school... but then I met the man of my dreams. I'm still focused (or as focused as a free spirit like me can be), and doing well in school, but I couldn't pass him up. However, school is definitely on the front burner. If I didn't allow him in my life, I'd be pining for him and missing him. If I indulged too much, I'd be flunking. Finding a balance to everything is key.
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Re: Words of advice to anyone under the age of 30.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Hatshepsut
Yep, I was going to stay single and focused during nursing school... but then I met the man of my dreams. I'm still focused (or as focused as a free spirit like me can be), and doing well in school, but I couldn't pass him up. However, school is definitely on the front burner. If I didn't allow him in my life, I'd be pining for him and missing him. If I indulged too much, I'd be flunking. Finding a balance to everything is key.
Nice to hear, im a future Nurse as well. Best of luck to you lady.
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Re: Words of advice to anyone under the age of 30.
The Family Law Act overrides pre nup's in Australia. They dont carry much weight.
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Re: Words of advice to anyone under the age of 30.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
BlackSheEp3
"A man is a master of his plan"
True, but the problem with planning is that people stupidly include other people in these plans. I know this sounds cynical, but you have to plan for yourself. Do not put your faith in other people, as people tend to have their own personalities, plans, and fallacies. For example, some people assume that their kids are all going to be doctors and take care of them when they get old, when in reality the kids have their own agendas like having musical careers or get into prison. Some people assume that they will find security with a rich husband, when in fact these rich husbands can die, get injured, or divorce. I'm not saying that you can't marry a well-off man, or that you shouldn't fall in love at all, but keep in mind that this may not equal permanent security. Rather than count on these theoretical perfect kids who will take care of you when you're old, invest in home health care insurance. If you do marry well, then get life insurance, keep an account, and keep your career options open in case something happens. Like BlackSheep said, TAKE CARE AND ENSURE FOR YOURSELF!
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Re: Words of advice to anyone under the age of 30.
^^^ Thats very true. You have to look after yourself first and foremostly. People make some crazy assumptions about the role of other people in their life sometimes.
I also think its important to have fun too. All of the things stated were quite serious though sensible, but IMO it is important to enjoy life and get something out of it also.
Maybe doing X amount of years at school, meeting someone, having kids and buying a home for ever after is great for some people, but there are plenty of decent alternatives to that to. You dont have to strive for that if you dont want to.
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Re: Words of advice to anyone under the age of 30.
I fully agree with almost all of this except the pre-nup thing. Instead of that, the advice I would give is to not get married to just anyone...make sure they're the person that you know you won't NEED a pre-nup for.
More advice from a 40 year old to under 30s-
Romance/Love-
If you are with a person and at any point you feel like you are putting more in to the relationship than you are getting out of it...get out of that relationship. Also, if at any point you have prolonged feelings of uncertainty/anxiety, get out of it. And lastly...if your family and friends tell you that your boyfriend/girlfriend is wrong for you...they're right. Get out of it.
Money-
Do not go into any sort of large amounts of personal debt that are for anything other than an education, car, or house, and don't buy a car that is more than you can afford.
Life-
Have fun and make sure you sow your wild oats...I mean, don't be stupid and do something you'll regret when you're older, but conversely, don't regret NOT doing something later as well.
Travel to meaningful and memorable, uplifting places. Specifically travel to Italy, France, Spain, Greece, and London. Actually, I'll amend my debt statement above...you may feel free to run up reasonable amounts of personal debt if it used for MEANINGFUL travel (this does not mean spending a week in Cancun getting shitfaced and puking in a palmetto bush).
Health-
Maintain your body as you age. You know how it's fairly easy at 25 to diet a little, exercise a little, and drop 10-20 pounds? At 40 it's fucking HARD. Don't let your body go.
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Re: Words of advice to anyone under the age of 30.
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Re: Words of advice to anyone under the age of 30.
Prenup's aren't always possible.
My boyfriend was one who felt strongly about getting a prenup before he married. Most of this was due to his inability to trust, but whatever.
When we moved in together, everything merged. Even though the furtiture loan is in his name, I pay it. Even though my car is in his name, I pay the bill. I have a credit card that is mine, but he is an authorized user. We have a joint checking account.
If we got a prenup..what would it say? Everything we brough into the marriage we got together, as a joint effort. There is nothing that is "his" or "mine" Everything is ours. But I know in the event of a breakup, we would be able to divide everything civilly, because neither of us woudl try to screw over the other one.
So yeah....while a prenup might be smart...marrying the right person is smarter.
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Re: Words of advice to anyone under the age of 30.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
BlackSheEp3
Nice to hear, im a future Nurse as well. Best of luck to you lady.
;D Forgive me this, as I find it so much fun, but most people have this image of an asexual nurse when really you 2 strippers are becoming nurses and I know of a phone sex operator who' straining to be a nurse. It just shows how stupid people can be.;D ;D
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Re: Words of advice to anyone under the age of 30.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
lolitachick
;D Forgive me this, as I find it so much fun, but most people have this image of an asexual nurse when really you 2 strippers are becoming nurses and I know of a phone sex operator who' straining to be a nurse. It just shows how stupid people can be.;D ;D
lol i see....well
Nursing crew holla!
P.S. Some well contributed advice posted ^^^up there.
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Re: Words of advice to anyone under the age of 30.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Mr Hyde
I fully agree with almost all of this except the pre-nup thing. Instead of that, the advice I would give is to not get married to just anyone...make sure they're the person that you know you won't NEED a pre-nup for.
More advice from a 40 year old to under 30s-
Romance/Love-
If you are with a person and at any point you feel like you are putting more in to the relationship than you are getting out of it...get out of that relationship. Also, if at any point you have prolonged feelings of uncertainty/anxiety, get out of it. And lastly...if your family and friends tell you that your boyfriend/girlfriend is wrong for you...they're right. Get out of it.
Money-
Do not go into any sort of large amounts of personal debt that are for anything other than an education, car, or house, and don't buy a car that is more than you can afford.
Life-
Have fun and make sure you sow your wild oats...I mean, don't be stupid and do something you'll regret when you're older, but conversely, don't regret NOT doing something later as well.
Travel to meaningful and memorable, uplifting places. Specifically travel to Italy, France, Spain, Greece, and London. Actually, I'll amend my debt statement above...you may feel free to run up reasonable amounts of personal debt if it used for MEANINGFUL travel (this does not mean spending a week in Cancun getting shitfaced and puking in a palmetto bush).
Health-
Maintain your body as you age. You know how it's fairly easy at 25 to diet a little, exercise a little, and drop 10-20 pounds? At 40 it's fucking HARD. Don't let your body go.
I agree with everything above, especially this brilliant bit:
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Mr Hyde
...you may feel free to run up reasonable amounts of personal debt if it used for MEANINGFUL travel (this does not mean spending a week in Cancun getting shitfaced and puking in a palmetto bush)."
I'd add the following to this growing list of old guy advice:
Make a real effort to add new people into your life. Particularly individuals who have skills, lifestyles or attitudes you don't have. This networking is vital to keeping life interesting and keeping yourself open, and it may lead you in directions you hadn't imagined.
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Re: Words of advice to anyone under the age of 30.
Enjoy your youthful hope and optimism. It may not last.
Also, don't smoke cigarettes. If you smoke now, quit while you can.
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Re: Words of advice to anyone under the age of 30.
My best advice to anyone under 30:
1. Listen to your heart. No matter how much other people insist that you need to do a thing (school, job, military service, marriage), ultimately you need to live your life. Once you stop listening to what others tell you is best for you, you'll be able to hear your heart telling you what is best for you.
2. Forgive your parents. They likely fucked up big time in your upbringing. They couldn't help who they are and they can't change the past. Nor can you. You might as well forgive them and become your own loving parent. Once you forgive your parents for the pain they inflicted on you, you have taken away their power to inflict more pain. Just smile and nod and say "thanks, but I'm a grown up now, and I'll decide what is best for me."
4. Admit and embrace that you're not perfect. Enjoy your flaws, they make you strong and unique. No one wants to hang out with a perfect, saintly person. How boring would that be?
5. Express your opinions, but don't shove them down people's throats. Our opinions make us who we are. If someone else has a different opinion, that makes him who he is, not wrong or stupid. Your opinion works for you and other's opinions work for them, there is no reason to destroy a relationship over differing opinions. When we withhold our opinions, we are concealing who we are to the world.
6. Be open to listen to other people's opinions. They are sharing with you who they are. They are making themselves vulnerable to you. Listen to the message, but see the person who is revealed behind the message. Disagreeing with someone's opinion is your acknowledgment that you are a separate and different individual.
7. Nothing has ever been gained by saying "no". Say "yes" as often as possible. When someone asks you for help, try your best to say yes. When you are invited to a social function, say yes. Even if the invitation makes you uncomfortable (go sing karaoke, sky diving, go out for Indian food, travel to a distant place, join a drum circle). Saying "yes" is stepping out of your comfort zone, and the more we step out of our comfort zones, the more comfortable the world feels.
8. Leave abusive people behind. If a "friend" makes you feel bad when you are around him/her, it is time to leave that person behind. Life is too short to waste it being miserable around people who are mean to you. Even if they say "I was just kidding around", that is usually a signal that his/her abuse of you is amusing to him/her.
9. Success is not measured by your bank account. Debt to maintain a lifestyle is the opposite of success.
10. Eat, drink and be merry. But...All things in moderation. Eat, but not until you are obese. Drink, but not until you are wasted. Be merry, but don't suppress your sad or angry or hurt feelings, either. Indulging in any behavior to the exclusion of everything else, is not healthy. Even if the activity seems "healthy" on the surface (exercise, saving money, working hard, political activism, religious practices, etc.).
There is my advice to be a happy person. Take it for what it's worth, but I am a pretty happy person;).
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Re: Words of advice to anyone under the age of 30.
I like Paris' list better.
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Re: Words of advice to anyone under the age of 30.
Paris has some good advice.
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Re: Words of advice to anyone under the age of 30.
Yes, Paris has the right answers.
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Re: Words of advice to anyone under the age of 30.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Paris
My best advice to anyone under 30:
7. Nothing has ever been gained by saying "no". Say "yes" as often as possible. When someone asks you for help, try your best to say yes. When you are invited to a social function, say yes. Even if the invitation makes you uncomfortable (go sing karaoke, sky diving, go out for Indian food, travel to a distant place, join a drum circle). Saying "yes" is stepping out of your comfort zone, and the more we step out of our comfort zones, the more comfortable the world feels.
I have learned that it's great to be able to help people and treat other's how you'd like to be treated. But I just recently learned if you are sacrificing your own sense of self or well-being in the process it's generally not worth it.
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Re: Words of advice to anyone under the age of 30.
I am 26 but consider myself a definite graduate from the school of "hard knocks" and I have a piece of advice my older friends (30+) always tell me they wish they'd learned earlier
It DOES NOT MATTER how much you love your significant other when considering ending a relationship. I've seen too many people stay with someone for a long time because they think that because they love the person, they should be together. The more important things are TRUST and RESPECT. You have to trust them, they have to trust you, you have to respect them and they have to respect you. If trust or respect is lacking, get the FUCK out, no matter how much you love them.
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Re: Words of advice to anyone under the age of 30.
All I can say is that the economy and the legal climate has changed so much in the past 7 years that much of the OP's original advice is now totally inapplicable !!!
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Re: Words of advice to anyone under the age of 30.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Melonie
All I can say is that the economy and the legal climate has changed so much in the past 7 years that much of the OP's original advice is now totally inapplicable !!!
New advice: don't bump 7 year old threads.
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Re: Words of advice to anyone under the age of 30.
Go to the gym a lot. Education, career, money, and success are all really shitty companions.