There comes a certain point in your life where you start to look at things from a different perspective and start to reflect on situations that could've been or shouldn't have been. When I turned 30 a few years ago, I started to look at things differently and felt like I needed to make some changes quickly. I broke it down to 5 tips I would give my younger self.
5) EVERYONE IS NOT YOUR FRIEND!!!!
I had sooooo many friends when I was younger. I would always want to be with my friends and not worry about anything else. My parents always told me having a lot of friends is not good. We never want to believe our parents until we get older. Majority of those "friends" I had are no longer around. I literally have a handful of people I call a friend right now and they have a purpose in my life. If your friends don't inspire you to do good or hold you accountable for things, then they are not your friend. Being around someone that is always gossiping about other people and making fun of them is not some one you should have in your element.
4) STEP OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE!!!
There are so many opportunities out there. It's a shame that we all get so accustomed to our habits and environment, that we are afraid to step out of our comfort zone and take that leap of faith and try something new. Staying closed-minded and sheltered will not help you elevate to the next season in your life.
3) DO NOT DEPEND ON ONE JOB... ALWAYS HAVE OPTIONS!!!
I'm not saying to always quit a job. I'm saying that things can happen. Let it be the company going bankrupt, not enough money to pay all employees, relocation etc. You always have to be 2 steps ahead in case anything happens. For example, a lot of big stores and mom and pop shops ended up closing down due to the pandemic. Nobody seen it coming. It's wise to have multiple sources.
2) HAVE A SAVINGS AND AN EMERGENCY FUND ACCOUNT!!!!
We definitely can't predict any issues that may occur in the near future. It is smart to always have money in both a savings and an emergency fund and to not touch it. It is a life saver.
1) CREDIT CREDIT CREDIT!!!!
Bad credit is no joke and I would never want to go back to that again. I got my first credit card at 18 and lets just say I was stupid smh. If you are going to get a credit card make sure you do your research and PAY your bill on time. Always pay more than the minimum payment amount. Believe it or not, good to excellent credit can get you better deals money wise on cars, home mortgages, credit cards and it can even land you certain jobs. Poor -Fair credit will be hard to get things on credit and if you're lucky to get anything on credit, it will most likely be a high down payment etc.
There are other things that I would tell my younger self, but I feel like these were the ones I should have been focused on at a particular point in my life. What would you tell your younger self? Let me know.
Later Love Bugs,
Elizabeth Jacas
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