The Financial Advice I’d Give My Broke 20-Year-Old Self
To my 20-year-old self: you're broke, you have no job, and you're juggling school while trying to make sense of life. You play way too much Overwatch, you have few friends, and you’re clueless but bursting with energy. You're also about to make some questionable decisions. That's okay. Here's what I wish I could tell you.
First off — stop trying to figure out what’s wrong with you. You’re not broken. You’re just undiagnosed. Thankfully, you finally saw a doctor and found out you have ADHD and depression. Suddenly it makes sense — why you can’t sit still but still ace exams without studying, why your self-esteem is in the gutter. Get the meds. Seriously. It’s one of the best decisions you’ll ever make. It doesn’t solve everything, but it makes doing life a lot more possible.
Second — stop buying stuff you don’t need. Impulse spending isn’t helping your mood, your finances, or your future. It’s just your ADHD chasing stimulation. Your lifestyle should be as simple as your bank account: empty. Don’t buy things to impress people — they won’t remember it next week. Instead of partying every weekend, go hang out with friends at someone’s place. It’s cheaper, it’s real, and it won’t wreck your wallet or your mental health.
Now, go get a job. Rejection sucks, but not trying is worse. Keep applying — one foot in front of the other. Someone will call. While you’re at it, start creating something — blog posts, videos, literally anything. It might not pay off right away (spoiler: it still hasn’t), but it builds something bigger over time. You’ll look back and be proud of the work even if the numbers are small. Trust me — D.Va will still be there later. Oh, and yeah… they do make Overwatch 2.
Let’s talk about debt. It’s not free money. It’s stress with interest. You do okay with your credit card, but without income, it’s a trap. Stick to cash if you can. At least you’ll feel the pain when you spend it. And those student loans? They're only for room and board, thank God. Start chipping away at them as soon as you can. Even paying down 10% now will feel like slaying a dragon later. It’s a mountain — but don’t let it grow taller while you look the other way.
Start investing. Ignore the noise. Yeah, your family gave you grief for it — ignore that too. You already watch tons of finance YouTube, so you know what to do. A target-date fund is perfect — low maintenance, totally chill. You can always adjust it later. What you don’t know yet is that money you invest at 20 could grow 88x by the time you're 65. That’s not a typo. Right now at 29, it’s only 26x. You’ve already lost time. Don’t lose more. Start.
No one cares what you make. Seriously. At 20, $11/hour feels okay — but what matters is what you keep. Hit up clearance sections. Avoid gas station snacks. Keep your Jetta — it’s ugly, but it runs. The goal isn’t to look rich. It’s to not be broke.
Learn to say no — to people, to spending, and especially to your own thoughts. Your brain is mean to you, and it doesn’t deserve the mic all the time. Change your thoughts, and your actions follow. Cut the burrito habit. Start losing the weight. You were overweight after Germany, and you still are. Be kind to yourself, but take small steps — now, not later.
You don’t have to have it all figured out. I still don’t. Buying a house? No idea. Moving out? Still working on it. Life smacked me around for a while, and honestly, staying home longer saved me from crashing harder. Don’t rush. Stack wins slowly. You’ll thank yourself.
And finally — be safe, be average, and be wealthy. You don’t need fancy investments, flashy cars, or high-maintenance friends. We’re not here to impress. We’re here to build. I wanted to be a millionaire by now, but that’s not reality. What is real? Progress. Tiny wins that compound over time. Stay consistent. Stay boring. The rest will come.
If this resonated with you, share it with someone who needs a financial reality check. Or even better — write your own letter to your younger self. You might be surprised what you learn.
