What advice would you give to the younger you?

DT2001

At 34 I was a year away from redundancy (fortunately saw it coming with a ‘restructuring’).
Self employed thereafter and house husband (4 children) for last 25 years.

Advice to younger self
1. Should have regularly put away into pension 
2. Continually invested in shares not haphazardly 

Good decisions
1. Children
2. Teaching children value of money
3. Travelling with children - almost all DIY hols
4. No new cars
5. Going into business with 2 friends (financially O.K. but solidified friendship for life)
6. Moving away from London
7. Being self employed - flexible for children and travel
8. Investing in property abroad - educated children there and the U.K. 
9. Looking at life/work balance when ‘work’ was a pain
10. Finding enjoyable work
11. Spread investments between pension, property, business, PEPs/ISA’s, SAYE, cash and tried to equalise OH and my holdings.

I think generally it is about balancing enjoyment and investing as who knows how long your here for.

SouthCoastBoy

DT2001 said:

I think generally it is about balancing enjoyment and investing as who knows how long your here for.

For me this is the most important, I have lost many acquaintances and/or friends who all throughout life, in their teens, 30s, 40s and 50s. Time is precious and a limited commodity, ignore material things.

michaels

Advice for younger self: Move into cash at the end of December 2021.

Ciprico

I'd tell my younger self to liquidate sipp and isa one month ago...!

jennystarpepper

So,  I think many are agreeing on are.... in no particular order, 

1  Don't buy cars new

2   Save to plug the gap between retirement and your SP increase when you can

3   Have / enjoy life, but be thrifty / careful

4   Start your pension as soon as you can, what ever type,  increase them whenever you can

Please feel free to add more, 

Some of the posts I have seen are about pre internet pension planning, unless you had someone who was money savvy to help you in those days a crystal ball would have worked.  

I worked for a bank for 5 years in the 80's, no financial advice / pension discussion given, just sign to apply.

Next, years in finance, offered a free pension about 2000, then given A first formal pension discussion .  

People do worry for children but they have more advice on hand than many had in the 70 / 80 / 90 / 20's to a point.  Offer children help, don't do it for them!!