Now that you’ve survived college and managed to land a job, you are on your way to financial freedom. Your first instinct is to go get that big screen TV or plush ride that you’ve been eyeballing for the past year. After all, why not? You’re earning now, you can afford it, can’t you? But wait. Catch your breath. Before you take the plunge on that big purchase, recall what you were taught when small while wanting to cross the road on your own “Stop… Look… Listen.. [and eventually Learn….]
When we start building a life for ourselves, we need to learn that starting early is the wise thing to do. We can’t sit back and wait for our old days before planning for the future. The trouble is that very few actually plan. Even those that save a decent percentage of their take-home pay rarely plan for the future and fund tax-advantaged accounts as they should. But the good news is that you can achieve your financial goals if you start early enough.
Start calculating your savings, start planning your retirement when you start your career. Agreed it does sound a little impractical. But what can you do when you are 60, and losing your memory? It is not time to look for investment options or wealth management. Might as well begin in your 20s, learn, and get better with time.
So, stop splurging, and start thinking and acting.