I've already done some things to prepare me for the future, like setting up a Roth IRA. I also eat healthy and exercise so I stay in shape. What are some other things I can do to make sure I have a better future?
Edit to add more context: I'm 18M and getting a degree in mechanical engineering. I'm financially literate enough to understand loans, amortization, and credit, and will make sure to pay off my student loan debt quickly.
i cannot agree with this more
This is a good one! I’m 68 and have all my teeth and no cavities.
I used to teach high school health, and one year a freshman turned in her final and said “I had fun in this class, but also feel like there was a lot of information. What are the three things I SHOULD take from this class?”
I respected the honesty. I said “Eat healthily as much as you can, get any kind of exercise you can, and brush your damn teeth.”
Yeah, that teeth thing at 60 now I’m having lots of problems totally screwed up. Take care of your teeth when you’re young.
Damn this is so right. I enlisted in the Army at 18 and was stationed overseas. I had cavities in two teeth in my lower jaw. Our dentists on post were rumored to be horrible, so I stuck it out and waited till I got out to have them looked at. They both ended up needing to be pulled. Having them would make chewing so much easier. Back then I brushed twice a day minimum but didn’t floss. Young and dumb.
Don't kick yourself too much about it. I was stationed state side and one of the dentists I worked with didn't wait for anesthesia to work on his patients because he wanted a longer smoke break.
This!!!! So much. Don't just brush. Brush morning and night. Floss at least once a day and get a water pic. I'm in the middle right now of getting two crowns and replacing two fillings. Total cost? $3,600. I was(am) a big candy eater and paying the price.
I will tell you it sucks being middle aged with out your own teeth.
Absolutely! And that doesn't just mean brush AND floss twice a day - it also means see a Dentist twice a year if you possibly can
Seeing the dentist is really on point. A lot of dental issues are actually hereditary. Weak or thin enamel is one of those things. I floss and brush and I don't have plaque at my visits, but I can't go a year without a new cavity. Most of them now are on the edges of fillings. Seeing a dentist makes sure that any problems are caught sometimes before you know it's a problem. Saves time, money, and pain in the long run
I was a chair side dental assistant for 30 years. Everyone hates going to the dentist and people wait until they have pain to make an appointment. Big mistake. The best thing you can do is go have your checkup twice a year. Cavities don’t cause pain at all if they are caught early. Your dentist can often fill a surface cavity without any pain or needles. Do everything possible to save a tooth. Never pull it unless your dentist says there is zero chance of saving it. Keep in mind that anything your dentist puts in your mouth will eventually fail.
Exactly. Came here to say "Floss."
OP probably does this already, though, based on his/her maturity and foresight in other categories.
I laugh a lot when I think about how much effort my parents and I put into my teeth, only to have my horse fall on me and knock them out them out anyways! I was always so scared of the thought of getting my teeth knocked out, after a friend kicked a soccer ball in his dorm room and hit a beer bottle that his friend was drinking from, and in law school I had constant dreams about my teeth falling out. Good news is that I don’t have those dreams anymore!
Water floss changed my life!
This a thousand times.
Seriously!!!!
Absolutely this.
This!!! Pushing 40 and everyone has Invisalign now
I was told by my dental hygienist that high acidic levels in your mouth is a breeding ground for bacteria. I told her I drink plenty of water and told her I drink filtered tap water and I carbonate it with a soda stream. She said that the carbonation has acidic PH levels. I had no idea. She also said that Listerine has high acidic levels and prescribed me mouthwash that tastes like pool water.
Spend time with high quality people who inspire and elevate you. Develop deep friendships that can last a lifetime. Have experiences with them such as camping, music festivals, group adventures, etc.
Yes! Especially the high quality part
Agree. If your buddies are all losers, you are more likely to become one too. As they say, misery loves company. My friend group at 17 weren’t so much losers but they were not motivated to better themselves. I knew I had to get away from that or I’d end up not accomplishing much in life. Joined the Army at 18 and got training which helped me land a good job when I got out.
What type of hood job are you currently excelling at?
Haha. Comment edited.
THIS ☝️🏻☝️🏻☝️🏻
This is beautiful and so overlooked
Throw ten bucks a week in VOO. As you get older invest more. You’re 45 year old self will thank you.
And when you get raises at work, up your contribution by a little less than your raise. I'm glad I did.
It's a painless way to save a lot of money, without feeling like you're hurting from it.
I was gonna say $QQQM. But that's a great recommendation.
LOL I am 45 and have most of my investment in VOO. I did not really start investing until I was 38, I wish someone had told me this when I was 18.
I'm old af.
Travel!
Do it NOW, while you're still young and healthy. Travel gets harder and way more expensive when you get old.
And your standards for comfort and cleanliness increase. I’m in the Army, so that keeps my standards pretty low, but I’ve still noticed a tolerance change as I’ve gotten older (and richer.) every time my buddy and I travel to a remote country I’m so thankful that we are able to tolerate the hard parts in order to experience the amazing parts!
Education! Education! Education!
No matter if it's classes at your community college or ivy League (full ride scholarship hopefully) or online certificates (like Project Management). Keep growing your skills.
Totally agree...
I wish I took better care of my back, hips, knees, and feet.
My best advice to you is add a daily stretching routine now - 15 minutes a day - will likely save you much agony 40-50 years from now.
I probably would not have taken this advice at your age, but man do I wish I had.
Here’s one more little piece of advice: embrace minimalism; spend your money on experiences not crap you don’t need.
Happy birthday and happy life to you!
I came here to say this! Stretching, staying active, finding an active hobby that you like... god I wish I could go back in time and drag myself off of the couch.
As a semi retired mechanic, I couldn't agree more. 20 years of turning wrenches and the contorting my body in weird ways really takes a toll. Choose your occupation carefully. Look to what the future holds in it and not just now. I thought I would be 18 forever and never get anybody aches and pains but that is definitely not reality
ROTH.
IRA.
ROTH IRA.
I don’t care if it’s $100/year, OpenAGoddamnRothIRA. Make that your Christmas gift from your family, they all put $20 in,
OpenafrigginRoth!
Definitely* got to second this one. My aunt started a Roth for my nephew idk - 5-6 years ago - He’s turning 20 tomorrow and he has more money saved for retirement than I do (at 55)
Third-ing this. Little is as draining as money worries, and little is as freeing as having the financial room to make choices.
Seeing the projections and how much saving in your teens and 20s sets you up to spend more of your earnings later on is so motivating.
At your age most people live frugally and don’t have fancy things. Even if you can afford it, don’t spend on materials, fancy apartments, or expensive cars. Save now and spend later when it is less desirable or socially normal to live with 4 roommates and eat rice and beans every day. It’s normal to do that at 18. It’s quite embarrassing to have to do it at 35.
It might become the norm in the future...
Just here to say you made me laugh.
Invest as much as possible, take care of your feet and teeth, don’t smoke, don’t do drugs, if you drink do so moderately. Challenge your mind. Use your critical thinking skills. Use your 20s to experience life before settling down. Date different people. Travel if you can afford it.
I agree so much with all of this. Especially the drugs and alcohol. It's such an advantage not to do either.
Journaling. Document your life because right now you might feel like you could remember anything forever. That changes. Giving yourself something to look back at is such a cool gift for older you. It doesn't have to be deeply personal, it can be more lightweight where you document dates and events, maybe even some photos and ticket stubs.
I regret not doing that earlier in my life, OP, so this is great advice! You never know one day you may have grandkids and they might want to know what it was like for you when you were younger.
Chill about the future for a minute and just live your life. You’re so young. Develop hobbies without screens, travel, read a lot.
I agree. He’s getting a great degree and seems sensible. Don’t forget to enjoy life, OP.
Yes bro, reading is so underrated
Reading saved my life. If there is one piece of advice I would give people above all else, it is to read incessantly, make it like breathing. When I fell into a deep depression, my reading habit is what kept me afloat until I got help. Thank god I’d developed it or idk what would have happened. Or worse, I do know.
Me too, I didn't start until I was 23, I wish someone would have told me, at a younger age, how important it really is
I had fun. I lived my life and enjoyed a lot of crazy, wild and indescribable things that allowed me to get it all out of my system so I could focus on adulting/parenting later in without feeling like I had missed something or was stuck somewhere I didn't wanna be.
I'm now at the age where people are having mid life crises and realizing their mortality- feeling like they need to do things they never did or desperately trying to cling to their youth.
I don't have any of that. I have no regrets and I don't feel I missed very much.
So yeah, in short- take time to enjoy your life. Its the things we do and the memories we make that give us fulfillment in the end.
100% agree. A lot of that, in my case, involved a lot of sex. I have no regrets. If I was thrown back into my teen years, going through that again would be something I'd look forward to going through again.
Note that I was able to enjoy my sex life because I did it responsibly: birth control was a must, condoms were used until we both passed STD exams, no cheating or other unethical behavior to get laid.
And when I settled down and got married, I didn't wonder what else was out there that I might be missing out on.
This is great advice
Agree 100% I did the same and have no regrets
Vote
Educate yourself and vote. Be cautious and skeptical about what you hear from friends or the news (however you consume news).
Good one. I agree.
Read
Start putting money in an IRA. Even if it is only a little bit. Your future self will thank you.
Let's advise further.
Put it in an index fund (or something safe). S&P 500 or VTSAX. Don't put it in some company that you just think will do good.
Put yourself first. Don’t make permanent decisions because of a partner, parent but especially friends.
Meditate. Daily.
Absolutely. Proper daily meditation should be the #1 thing to do.…
It improves your brain.
Take care of your hearing!!!
If you don’t, you may get tinnitus.
You don’t want your live your senior years with constant swooshing.
Start saving money now.
Quit smoking
PLEASE TAKE CARE OF YOUR JOINTS AND TEETH. Unfortunately I did not.
ETA I did start sunblock in my early twenties so I do have that going for me. Sunblock is VERY important.
Definitely start a habit of sun protection now. Good sunglasses and daily sunscreen. Don't forget the tops of your ears.
Damm, never thought of my ears.
Looking at the comments, I would sum up the advice as trying to forecast yourself at 60 years old and asking what are the common challenges that make life miserable later on in life. As a young man, it’s almost impossible to think of them because of your lack of experience. The other irony of this exercise is 99% of young people will ignore this advice because at 18 years old, you feel invincible.
The inevitable obstacles you will face and can mitigate with planning are:
Health: Take care of yourself with good habits. Just look around and you’ll see the greatest challenge is people eat too much and do not exercise.
Money: People of all walks of life, rich, middle class, and working class struggle because they do not live within their means and/or they failed to save money.
Career: This is the area that funds your lifestyle. Get the best job you are capable and continue to improve your job skills to maximize your income. Or you can get an average paying job, come home, watch tv, and never upgrade your lifestyle.
Happiness and Relationships: Surround yourself with quality people. Be a good human being that listens and has empathy. Avoid toxic people.
If you focus on these four items, you will be miles ahead of the majority of the people in the country.
Im not that old (30) but I wish I'd found the courage at your age to follow my dreams, I really wanted to travel the world but I kept putting it off, its harder even now so if there's something you want to do in life please chase it and do it
People constantly say this, but let me tell you something, I DID. Waste my entire young adult life both traveling and taking care of family. Was it amazing? Yes it was. But I was also in a constant state of deep poverty, because all I did was work for money towards the next trip or the next family member that needed help instead of working to secure myself a comfortable future.
I’m now in my 50s, with no workforce skills or trades. No education past the education of life, no savings to speak of, unemployed since the pandemic and now facing multiple surgeries I can’t afford to remove massive tumors in my gut that I originally thought was just bloating.
It seems I will die the way I lived, only this time it won’t be a vacation. It will be homelessness as an elderly woman. Because I wasted my good years fucking around. Now? I’m finding out.
Traveling and taking care of family is “fucking around” and “wasting [your] life”???
This country’s health insurance system is disastrous. Please don’t blame yourself for that.
I think a good balance is key. From 18 to 30 I studied for a career that I was interested in and was somewhat lucrative. And I also identified a few things (traveling, learning Spanish) that I would be sad if I died never having done, and did them. You can do a little of each. It doesn't have to be all or nothing
Balance. This isn’t IG influencer life of traveling and not pursuing actual life. I traveled a good amount in my 20s but always regret not trying harder to live abroad. I always had a reason I couldn’t. Now I have a whole dang family and my husband has no desire. Would love to just take a few months to live elsewhere at least.
Contrarian here. I did some business travel when my children were young and we sometimes took them. Later when they were in their teens, we arrange business travel and vacation breaks. They got to see many countries as well many states.
Tried harder to get more education. We did not have the vast resources that are available today. You are 18, spent maybe 12 years in school. You will now work up to 50, 60 years. Yes you need to make money, but you still have time to learn and grow before full time work. Use your time wisely
Also OP remember education is not always done in school or needs a degree. You can learn a lot by reading books and figuring out trades.
I'm going to add "fail up". Most people say this about jobs, which it can certainly apply to. But for me it was also helpful in relationships. Every job or relationship you have might not be the best, or the one you stay at forever. But it is practice for the next one. Lots of people stay in jobs or relationships they hate longer than they should. When you fail (i.e., have to break up with someone, have to quit a job, are broken up with, are fired) just think of that experience as practice for the next thing. Don't be toxic or stay in a toxic situation (or one that makes you toxic) just because. Get out in a healthy way as soon as you know it's not for you and find the next, better thing and do it a little bit better than last time
I wish that I had studied harder when I was in college. I graduated in the middle of my class, but I could have done a lot better.
Guess who had their pick of the best jobs, when they were interviewing during senior year: the ones who had the best grades.
You are already doing two important things: taking care of your body / health and investing for your future. BRAVO!!
I would encourage you to be very selective who you date and who you choose as girlfriends. Those people should inspire you and be positive role models.
If you can further your skills and education, this will set you up for a good career.
Lastly, enjoy traveling when you can, to interesting new places that will show you the breadth and beauty of the world. Culture, Museums, churches, etc that resonate with you.
Last but not least, find a faith that speaks to you and immerse yourself in its teachings. I've been a Christian my entire life, and it has helped me through, good times and bad. It helps you build character, be compassionate and generous. My faith has carried me through some very difficult times. Most of all, it taught me to love others, even if we differ.
Enjoy yourself! 💕
Meet new people, outside of your educational and recreational communities. Differing beliefs, lifestyles, experiences, cultures.
Try new skills and hobbies. Volunteer.
Get a job in hospitality (this sounds odd but it makes you a much nicer person to all types of staff in the future).
Write down what your life is like sometimes.
Learned a second language while young. Glad I did sports. Not the injurious ones like football, but track. Should have learned as real trade. Including college. But college was not necessary. Wish I had a side gig business.
If you wanna party your ass off and/or try some drugs, (not advocating for it) now's the time to do it. Your body will recover a LOT faster then when you're older.
I partied my ass off late teens/early 20s and got it all out of my system. I have no regrets. I dont feel like I missed or didnt get to experience anything people my age say they wish they would have tried when they were younger.
Its exponentially harder with bills, responsibilities and takes a looooot longer to recover as you get older.
Definitely travel. Made me a more interesting and well rounded person. I worked overseas. I worked all over the USA. At 25 I took 8 months off and literally went around the world. I'm still doing it and I enjoy my travel experiences so much.
Wear ear protection around loud places especially concerts, bars with music or when operating machinery or shooting guns. I got tinnitus from one heavy metal concert at 20 years old and it’s only gotten worse over the years and it is so unbearably frustrating. I used to feel so optimistic and carefree about my life and sadly as my tinnitus has gotten worse it’s really robbed me of a lot of joy and my ability to just relax.
I’m 26. When I was 18 I was heavily invested in my education and developing friendships with my peers. I’m so so grateful I did that. It really sets up your future nicely.
Get that education you will never regret it
I went through Outward Bound, an outdoor adventure school that emphasizes self reliance and growth. It made a huge difference in how I felt about and approached my life especially in terms of natural world/work world balance. There are other programs especially NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School). My youngest went through that and it grounded him in his life.
If you are eating healthy and exercising, you are way ahead of 99% of us oldies and every single person on the planet already.
Exercising: There are a lot of exercise physiologists on youtube that are actually quite good...this cutting edge information was almost unobtainable to us before the internet. Check it out....it will also help you exercise LESS than you may think you should do! (this is good, but doing it less will prevent burnout)
Booze is poison. It's great fun, but just know what you are doing to yourself if you drink.
You are in possession of what many do not have: TIME any investment you make, over time, can make you a very happy time. do NOT freak out if its value fluctuates wildly over time
Start a credit history. Have one credit card that you pay off fully every month (set up autopay of you have steady income). Use less than 20% the limit of the card throughout the month.
Be aware that credit cards are a dangerous financial tool. Do not overspend. If you find you're tempted to overspend, limit yourself to using the card for one thing. For example, just as a gas card.
If you start at 18, by 28, you'll have 10 years of credit history with zero missed payments. It's great for the credit score. I can not emphasize enough that you must pay off the full balance every month. Otherwise you incur interest and you're throwing money away.
When it comes time for you to choose who to marry, If you choose to marry or partner for life. A partner who is kind, funny, happy and gentle, those are so much more important than good looking or rich. Life is so much easier with someone who is kind. Everything you go through the good and the horrible will be easier for the kind person. If I was going to marry again which I hope I never have to, (I've been married to my husband since 1984, together since 1980.) I wouldn't care if the person was attractive in any way, I know after all these years that kindness is what counts. When I read about relationships on Reddit which I know they're not all real but there's too many for some of them to not be real, I can't believe the amount of swearing, yelling, screaming men and women who are out there. You know my husband has never screamed at me or yelled at me, He's never used swear words at me, definitely never raised a hand. There are people out there like that. See, exercising and eating right and having a 401k. Those are all smart things to do but marrying a kind person is going to change the rest of your life and change your children's lives, possibly grandchildren for the better.
So how do you know if somebody's really kind or faking it for the dating part of their relationship?
Watch how they treat those who have no power. People who are low on the economic scale or don't have much power. Waitresses, is he kind and friendly? Is he kind to homeless people, or impatient? How about children or teens that he's not related to that he meets in public. Does he speak to them? Respectfully and look them in their eye or are they beneath him?
I wish you all the best and if you want a spouse, a spouse who is kind.
One hundred thousand percent, this. I envy your marriage. ❤️
I started saving up for a down payment on a house. I didn’t go through with it because I married a guy who lied about, well, a lot, and bled me dry. After our divorce I had to declare bankruptcy. The houses I was saving up for was $85,000 in 1990. Terrible regrets.
Wished I had finished college. Wished I knew even an inkling about investing. Take care of your health and if anything feels or is wrong, get it looked at asap. Travel
Use sunscreen….the “tanned” look is unhealthy & you will regret it later. A friend of mine who always tanned had to have 1/2 of her nose removed at 45.
Don’t get caught up in needing fancy things. Buy card that are 3 years old…let someone else pay the depreciation. Remember, a car’s ultimate purpose is transportation, not yo make you look cool.
Same for housing, you don’t “need” a mcmansion. We bought in a nice area, but not the best & not the top school district. We put the money we saved into private school for the kids.
Although you’re not of age yet, never drink and drive. It can ruin your finances, credit, job prospects, and mobility freedom.
I’m glad I avoided and stayed out of having romantic relationships. Stay out of them. I didn’t start dating until almost turning 30. After getting to know about 3 - 5 different people I quickly met who would be my spouse, who is the same age and a perfect match. We have been married for 8 years now. I believe lots of problems were avoided due to this choice.
I kind of wish I did the opposite. Like I dated and whatnot but I had zero interest in committing to a girl from 18-28ish.
Never turn down a good thing
I wish I had joined some networking/practice making small talk type groups. That’s a weakness I have that has held me back. Also spend time talking to older adults about their jobs. We love to talk about ourselves lol. But it will give you more info on what you want to do and how to get there
I took a gap year after getting into my dream university but being unable to afford it. It was one of the best years of my life. It was beach volleyball with friends during the day with chicks watching, waiting tables at night, and going out after work. Then, doing it all over the next day. You're only young once and have plenty of time to work over the next 30 years as long as you only do a year of it. I'm in the US. Had I been in EU, I would have spent it backpacking.
Travel!!! I love that I traveled, I wish I would’ve done it more. Go see places, meet people and hear their stories.
Wish I had enlisted in the military. VA benefits are no joke.
Don’t settle for a shitty partner. Find someone who has same goals and values as you do and make sure they treat you with respect. Make sure they speak highly of their family and are respectful to one another. That’s a quick judge of character if someone bad talks their own family. Also the family should be good too, if they come from a dramatic and trash family, they will bring you down.
👆This right here. Can speak from personal experience. The last thing you want is to be just a roommate to your partner, and can’t even be in the same room.
Yes this!! Is so easy to settle for a shitty partner when your below the age of 25. Just my experience. Hold off on big decisions like marriage until your brain is fully developed op 🙂
I retired at 52…comfortably.
How? I began investing at your age and made that a priority. Every raise, bonus, gift, etc was almost fully invested. Honestly, I invested until it hurt after meeting my obligations and passions. That required avoiding a “keep up with the Joneses” mentality. Drive cars 10+ years, take care of your stuff and learn to maintain and repair your things. Also, find sources of passive income…I invested successfully in real estate. There are so many options…find one or more that you’re passionate about.
What could I have done better? Take care of your body…it’s the only one you have. Take time to enjoy the moment and celebrate milestones and successes. Treat your family and friends like rockstars…they’ll be there for you when you need them (and you WILL NEED THEM). Don’t waste your youth on booze and chasing relationships. Find out who you are and what you love first…then when you’re comfortable in your skin, you’ll be a suitable partner for someone else with the emotional intelligence to succeed in a relationship.
I could go on, but probably have lost most of you…
Got it a degree
Study. Take care of your teeth. Get off social media. Have realistic expectations.
Do not open a credit card. Always wear good shoes. Floss twice a day.
I should have relied more on myself and less on my mother. She intentionally kept me in a spineless child-like mindset so she could keep controlling me throughout my life. All while demanding god-like results of me with no basis in reality. I would have to bend space-time to satisfy her requirements.
I'm not saying to disregard your elders in all things, but just remember that EVERYONE has there own personal agenda that they'll try to shoehorn you into.
Especially nowadays, with politics as popular-culture. They don't even write good stories anymore because "message" matters more to them than Artfulness. That sort of thing twists the spirit and destroys empathy with enough repetition.
So your generation is going to watch it's own back more than any since the 1800's, no matter What you believe in.
Not that it "helped me later," but I will pass this along. You live in a time when sex is so easy. There's an app for everyone. Wanna get laid? You just swipe. While we didn't have apps back in the day, sex still wasn't difficult.
But learn to really appreciate it now. If you can meet someone and have a great time or two, life is easy and good, make sure you fully enjoy and appreciate.
Because later everything gets complicated.
Go to university/college. Don’t get pregnant, don’t date assholes. Start a business, at 18 you have nothing to lose.
Find someone that you like, love, and is your best friend. When you find the right one (you'll know), don't let them get away. Be kind. It is the most important decision you'll make. I met my wife when I was 19 and she was 18 in college. I knew the moment I met her that she was the one. It took me six months to get a date, but by then, we were best friends. We celebrate anniversary #38 this summer. Best decision I ever made.
Repeat gums and teeth - but also look at FIRE (financial independence, retire early). Make sure you are solvent and don't go crazy with toys. Learn to save up to 50% of your income - then you can buy a house if you want, travel, raise a family, or whatever. Take advantage of everything that keeps your money in your pocket. Don't think "tomorrow" as tomorrow is already here for many of us, caught with our pants down and dependent on our children.
Great question! The thing is if you’re afraid to do or try something you could regret it the rest of your life. I know!! Im 79 now. When I was 21 or 22 I had the chance to go to Airborne school at Ft. Campbell KY I think, but was afraid of missing a semester of college if I did. Missing one semester of college would not have changed my life one bit.
If you have a good relationship with your parents, stay home and save the fuck out of your money. Moving out was worth it maybe 10 years ago.
Learn how to do EVERYTHING yourself. Cooking, cleaning, living alone, taxes etc. Dint know how to do those things? Then ask, watch a video and learn. Get 2 credit cards but only use them for tiny purchases and pay them off monthly. Shoot for a life of as little debt as possible. Be young, have fun, no need to start any serious relationships at your age. Odds are they won’t last. Life is going to throw you some curveballs and it’s never going to always be good. When bad things happen, take a breath and deal with them. Ignoring them won’t make them go away. If you have addict behavior stay away from the things that might be issues. Drinking, drugs, gambling, sex, whatever it is learn to balance and if it gets out of hand push it to the side. The final thing is, never stop living the life you want and pursuing the things you love! Yeah your job might suck, but your life doesn’t have to. Live your life so that when you’re 50, you don’t regret the things you never did. Always get paid what you’re worth, never settle unless you’re sure it’s a good place to be at.
Saved for a house and bought one
Don't get tan. Like ever. And wear sunscreen everyday. I'm only middle aged, but the difference between the skin on my body that has seen a lot of sun vs that which it almost always covered is very evident. I'm not just taking about getting a tan at the beach or at the pool--although that is still important. It's the daily exposure.
I see a lot of nude adults because I work in an operating room. These older people often have beautiful, smooth, flawless skin only inches away from skin that is covered by liver spots and wrinkles. The difference is in the sun exposure.
Don't forget your neck, chest, and hands when applying that daily sunscreen.
If you have a good relationship with them, spend time with your parents. Have dad show you home repair, have mom show you her favorite recipe, or whatever configuration works for your family. You can't ask when they are too old to remember... or when they are gone. Harder grief when they are gone is better than deeper regret.
Start an IRA.
Do it now. Right now.
Buy life insurance. Not term life, like real forever life insurance.
Learn to ask for help. There is no shame in it, and, as I have learned, almost everyone likes to be asked, especially if it's something they are knowledgeable about.
Self care! Stay flexible and active. Brush and floss, wear sunscreen, eat less carbs. By the time you start getting achey or see that belly growing, it's too late. 🙂 Just kidding but stay ahead of it.
And also... Splurge, take risks, travel as much as possible and for as long as possible before you marry and have children. Pay less attention to doing everything "right" and go explore and see what "right" is for you.
(Within reason)
Enjoy!!❤️
Value experiences over possessions.
Work hard, but play hard too. Build experiences.
Focus on deep friendships with a few over shallow friendships with many.
Invest regularly. Regular small investment adds up to more than a few large investments most of the time.
The three most important decisions in life are:
1) what you do
2) who you marry, and
3) where you live
Get those right and the rest of your life will take care of itself.
Deeeeennnttiiiiissstt
Put 1000 into a 401k or IRA
my aunt told me to and I had the money but I used it on dumb stuff instead
I would put 10% or whatever you can (after savings/retirement) towards travel. Those are experiences that will broaden your horizon and open your eyes by experiencing the world in a way different to yours. Pick a country that is very different from yours.
Pick your friends well. Not everyone will remain in your life but true friends will be your rock and help you celebrate your wins as well as be there in the difficult times. Be a good friend in return also.
I see a big focus on health, and teeth, etc., in the comments. All valid points.
But I think it's also critical to surround yourself with the right people and friends. People who will accept you and support you, and be honest with you when you need someone to NOT give you BS or just tell you what you want to hear. A friend who will call you out, in the appropriate way.
Equally important, esp as you age, is to know when to let go of a friendship. Sometimes they fade on their own because you go different directions. Sometimes the other person turns into an a-hole. Whatever the reason, don't hold onto it out of guilt. Let it die its death and move on.
Brush your teeth twice a day, Floss and go to dentist 2X yr
Put Money in savings
Don’t run a credit card debt
Stay away from alcohol.
Open a line of credit but don’t get yourself into credit card debt. Live within your means. Make your own doctor appointments.
Use a damn condom.
Join the military. It makes you grow up and understand that life is serious, and very precious.
Every day after the military is gravy.
I was not happy when life forced me to enlist in the Navy. 6 years later I was delighted to be getting out and free again.
Then the benefits started accruing. First GI bill payed for an engineering degree from Berkeley. I went four years without having to work side jobs.
When I graduated I discovered that putting Veteran on your resume alone kept it out of the reject pile.
Later when I was contracting and had no stable healthcare I switched to the VA. Most positive and dedicated place I have ever been. VA healthcare alone has been well worth every day I spent 400 feet underwater.
Now I face retirement and the VA has many resources for the trials of getting older.
At 18 I hated the idea of joining Navy post Vietnam.
At 67 I feel it may have been the best decision I ever made.
I joined the Navy at 21 and wish that I'd retired, but I didn't. Definitely the benefits of the healthcare alone made it well worth it. That and shipmates who you'll know for a long time to come. So OP, definitely think about it. No ground pounding carrying 50+ pounds! And the Navy and Marine Corps have the best pilots. They're carrier qualified...
I’m glad I finished high school. I really wanted to drop out. I felt like college was my only hope of being able to support myself though so I stuck it out. I’m glad I got a degree too, but now that’s a double-edge sword. I paid almost nothing for college compared with what people pay now. And I’m not sure the degree matters as much. If I had it to do again, I would do trades. HVAC maybe.
Not a damn thing. I was a complete idiot until I was about 40.
Party your buns off. Have fun. Make memories.
In moderation, I was blackout drunk most of my 20's and 30's, what memories?
Travel every chance you get. You don't have to go far - seeing different places, people, environments and scenery gave me a wider world view. I had a world map with my location marked with a "You are here" arrow to remind myself of scale and proportions.
Take good care of your skin.Wear sunscreen
Travel, if you can.
I'm from the U.S. Before I was married or had children, I took a Eurail / youth hostel trip across parts of Europe. And that was back before the EU (lots of money changing and passport checking).
Memories from that trip are strong with me to this day.
It also humbled me a great deal re: how I was raised and assumptions I didn't even know I was making about life and people in "the rest of the world."
Now mid-50s and not only have I never returned anywhere near there, I've have only traveled outside the U.S. for business (once) and very few In-Laws/ext. family visits.
Because it just seems like something fun to do (i.e., not necessary), it's so much harder to do once you have so many "necessary" things that keep you where you are.
Accepting Jesus Christ as my savior. Followed the Bible. Kept my 2nd car 1966 mustang.
Lived in a seaside village and had the time of my life (22-24) then moved to a huge city and worked my butt off (24-31)! Then I settled down!
Learn!
Man, at 18, all the time that you have. Learn a little bit about everything - maintenance, music, sewing, cooking, baking, running, investing, anything!
Learn to love reading and learning. Be open to try new things & new experiences.
Stay close to friends and relatives that are meaningful to you. Let them know how much you value them; take them out for a meal, visit as much as you can. You will thank yourself later.
Go camping, travel, see as much of the state/ country/ world as you can when you're young and happy to carry a backpack, stay in hostels. I'm old, happy to travel cheap, travel companions are appalled at the idea.
Learn home repair and car repair.
Spend time camping and learning the land and wildlife. Buy land asap. You can use it for recreation or build on it later. Value will just keep increasing.
Keep track of your teeth. Dentist every 6 months.
Went to college.
Save your money. Do the things you want to do now. Make mistakes and learn from them. Fear of making mistakes later will be harder to overcome. Keep wearing your retainer. You don’t need anyone else’s approval to live your life how you want to. Don’t get a degree just to get one and expect a career lined up from that alone.
Besides schooling, learn a trade to fall back on in tough times.
Be present
Not get married in my 20s, got my degree & traveled. I have always been grateful that I did that!
Sunscreen.
Protect your ears, tinnitus sucks!
Learn to make peace with your decisions. You do the best you can with the information you have at the time. Sometimes you hit it out of the park and sometimes you strike out. Learn and adjust from the strike outs. Strive to do better, but don't beat yourself up because you wiffed.
There are all these post about if you could go back and do over... You'd more than likely do the same because you wouldn't have any different knowledge. That is why it is important to be a good person.
I am glad I learned not to let my friends/boyfriends(even with 'true love') get too close to me. I mean, even the "good" ones. I learned this world is not FIT to handle a truly innocent person, who loves others consistantly and fully. I am glad I set BOUNDARIES early on, after getting burned several times BEFORE turning 18. I am glad I was more careful with my friends/boyfriends/lovers. I am glad I acted upon the knowledge that everyone will not always reciprocate the genuine love and care you have for them. This behavior is due to jealousy. I am glad at 18 , that I learned that...and lived my life accordingly.
Travel
Invest in SWPPX , it's a S&P 500 ETF, you can buy in at $1.00. I REALLY wish i had started investing at 18 and not 45.
Don’t change who you are to get someone to like you. The real ones will like you just the way you are.
College is a complete waste of money, learn a skilled trade that people actually use.
Be kind, FFS Invest in yourself education/experiences/finance Meditate daily Floss daily Exercise and stretch daily Jet loser friends, don't hang with fools Time is your most valuable asset, use it wisely Travel Have kids Do all this, you're good!
Travel. A lot. While you have nothing holding you from doing it. Experience the world, get your passport and go see other countries. If you're from the US, go visit all of the cool places in the country. There's a bunch just.
Surround yourself with people who are most like what you want your life to be. "You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with" So, spend the most time with people that meet your vision of what you expect out of your life and be that for someone else.
Also, regardless of whether you think you'll need it or want it, get a 4 year degree. I'm 40 years old and have decided I want to become a lawyer and so I have to start from scratch. You never know what your future might hold that you need to have the 4 degree to move to the next step. If you don't know what you want to do get it in a universally useful area like communications or something similar.
Educate yourself, regularly, about your chosen field for a career but don't worry about figuring that out right away. Try different things, don't be concerned about committing to something right away if you're not sure it's for you. It's 100% alright to change your mind and not know until you're in your late 20s, early 30s.
Use the next 5-10 years to discover the world, and yourself, and don't be in a rush to settle into anything right away.
Get a good education in something that interests you. And hang around people who are smarter than you. Their intelligence will rub off on you.
Start saving for retirement now and buying stocks.
Buy real estate. They’re not making more land. I’ve done all the things on this list and the best investment by far was purchasing a home at 26.
Wear a rubber.
If it's too easy, leave it alone. That goes for everything.
Set boundaries at work
I am glad I went to college. It introduced me to all different kinds of people and different ways of thinking. I realize its cost prohibitive now but if you can’t go be sure to break free of your high school friends and open yourself up to the world.
State universities are still affordable, as are community colleges.
Go to college, if you can! I am 57 now, and some of the best memories I have are from my college days. I made life-long friends, not to mention getting my degree! 😊
Stretch your mind by doing things you’re not all that interested in. Go to the main library in your area and see what special collections they have. Try the history museum or push yourself to go to a parade or house tour. Attend cultural events.
See how other people live and how your area developed so you can understand how life was and will be outside your home.
Invest in real estate. Travel before marriage and kids.
Wish I'd been a lot kinder to myself at that age and not second guessed everything I said. Those times when I was self-tolerant really brought good energy which wasn't healthy just for me, I think- it made me more generous to others and more adventurous in life- for some reason.
Don’t get into debt. And learn a way to make an honest steady living. Don’t just float through life hoping something will work out. Prepare yourself to offer a service people are willing to pay for. Good luck!
start saving for retirement NOW
Focus on earning diplomas and certifications! Education can never be taken away from you.
TRAVEL. Don't wait until you're older. Do it now and outside of the USA.
Don’t be afraid of making mistakes. We all do and you just need to learn from them
Travel.
I hitchhiked across the Us Greg summer I turned 18 (2010) good experience overall, not really something I could do anymore considering responsibilitys.
I wish I'd traveled to CA and attend UCLA.
Learn a foreign language while your brain can still retain it. It will broaden your mind and if you persist until you are proficient, it can be a huge asset for a career.
Also, learn to live within your means and to be truly content there; don’t go into debt for a higher standard of living than you can afford. The key to this is to be thrifty in most categories of spending, but pick one or two that you splurge on once in a while (you save up for the splurge, not putting it on a credit card impulsively).
Joined the Army
Learn how to budget your money, include savings if at all possible, and DO NOT get over your head in credit card debt, cuz it's so easy to do and so hard to get out of.
Save for retirement. I know so many people who didn't and being poor in old age is awful. Try to stay out of debt, especially credit card debt. And despite the above live your life now! No guarantees for the future.
Take excellent care of your teeth and gums. You will never regret it.