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20 Things I Wish I Had Known When Starting Out in Life

zenhabits.net — Valuable lessons in life for college students or anyone starting out. You might ignore them anyway, but at least you've been warned.

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  • claycollins, on 02/18/2008, -43/+30great work!
    • ricoboy24, on 02/18/2008, -19/+8If there is anything i have learned in life, its How to use a condom. so mistakes like you would never happen.
    • evanscott07, on 02/19/2008, -0/+1fine work award! -dundies
    • P3dr4m1, on 02/19/2008, -0/+1Always listen to other people's advice, learn to recognize when it would be right to accept it and when not to.
  • jfh2112, on 02/18/2008, -10/+82It's a shame to find this when I'm 37 instead of 18. :) Absolutely wonderful advice
    • known, on 02/18/2008, -0/+14yeah, better late than never
      • artofwar420, on 02/18/2008, -0/+4I'm 20! it's already too late ;(
        • JerodSlay, on 02/18/2008, -0/+8It's not too late. I'm 21, and the retirement thing would have been nice when i was 16 with my first job, but I started training for a marathon just last novemeber and finished one yesterday (coincidental timing i know).
          Needless to say I completely agree with the marathon one (number 19). It is one of the most amazing things i've done in my life, and I can say this less than 30 hours after finishing. There's something about setting a goal (finishing) and taking the steps needed to accomplish the goal (running a few times a week) and accomplishing the goal (running the marathon).
    • nmcvicke, on 02/18/2008, -12/+10all good, except for the tequila is evil part. that is simply not true. its amazing
    • fadetoone, on 02/18/2008, -12/+23It can't be *that* accurate. It's missing the "women will string you along until they find something better to do, or otherwise just ruin your life" advice.
      • moonshn, on 02/18/2008, -2/+7just need to find the right one. that encompassed my experiences with women until i met my fiancee; there are some genuine ones out there.
      • TheKillDoctor, on 02/18/2008, -5/+6Love is just a chemical imbalance caused by the desire to procreate.
        • CoolWind, on 02/18/2008, -1/+6Love doesn't necessarily have ANYTHING to do with procreation. Even children experience love, and gays, etc., etc.
          • TheKillDoctor, on 02/18/2008, -4/+1Really? So having sex to make a child has NOTHING to do with love.
            I do not think you think what you wrote is what you meant to say...
          • artofwar420, on 02/18/2008, -0/+2I think he meant, but couldn't, for stupidity reasons, that the bond between children and mother is something that goes beyond us humans, something that began long before our concept of love started. Love is a STRONG bond between people/animals that doesn't require anything in return.

            He failed to say that.
        • KibibyteBrain, on 02/18/2008, -0/+3Procreation may be the evolutionary stimulus of love, but love is independent of that. You know, just like, increasing fitness on the ability to hunt in tall grass savanna may have been the evolutionary origin of humans walking upright, but that does not imply that is the cause for us doing it today.
      • Kurlumbenus, on 02/19/2008, -0/+2Your misogynistic cynicism is boring.
    • drgmdp, on 02/18/2008, -10/+38hmmm... in a list of 20 advices about life, 2 of them are about weblogs?
      wtf
      bloggers need to step down, nobody in the real world cares about them
    • DrMonkeyLove, on 02/18/2008, -2/+20Yeah, this is great advice. And most of your parents were probably giving you all this advice but you didn't bother to listen until you read it on an Internet blog.
      21. Listen to you parents. They probably have some good advice.
      The sad thing is, all this is considered advice that people are in desperate need of, when it should be common sense.
    • umerok, on 02/18/2008, -2/+6i'm 24 and i feel like it's already to late
    • jsg7, on 02/18/2008, -0/+2http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:_RwceVcGu-UJ: ...
    • davidwasman, on 02/18/2008, -1/+4I'm 38...what makes it too late for you, let alone me?
      • six025, on 02/18/2008, -2/+0that's the point ... once you get there ... it doesn't matter any more :)
        • davidwasman, on 02/19/2008, -0/+2Some of this list can still pertain to us old fogeys.

          For instance, you're never too old for advice. You're never too old to go back to school. You're never too old to live your dreams. etc...
    • ray4389, on 02/18/2008, -0/+2I'm 18 turning 19 soon and I find that sure stress now won't matter later, but it's still there and won't go away till then. It's impossible to alieve stress by saying that it will be worth it later.
      • Kurlumbenus, on 02/19/2008, -0/+2Not if you have a modicrum of self control.
    • dukeochutney, on 02/18/2008, -1/+4spend less time reading lists that every 30 yr old thinks they are entitled to create because they are 'wise'
  • ThomasPalmer, on 02/18/2008, -13/+168Sweet, I'm 18. Thanks Zen Habits!
    • TheKillDoctor, on 02/18/2008, -7/+28Just ignore the "run a marathon" advice and you'll have hips, ankles, and knee caps that work when you're 65.
      • starbar, on 02/18/2008, -5/+10you obviously have never done actual research into this...or this is one of the common excuses for not running one. It's ok, not everyone can actually run or has the will power to run a marathon. refer to no. 7

        And when you run a lot your joints build up to the abuse, so my joints are stronger than your since I run so much....
        • TheKillDoctor, on 02/18/2008, -8/+8Your ignorance of what the body is designed to do shows your first hand observations to be lacking any real educational background. It's ok, acting stupid and being stupid are two different things.
        • HenvY, on 02/18/2008, -2/+4Actually the KillDoctor, it's you who is ignorant of what the body is 'designed' to do. The human body is designed to run extremely long distances so that animals could be chased until a point at which they would die of exhaustion.
        • jethroalias97, on 02/19/2008, -0/+3joints do not "get stronger" muscles get stronger, joints where out, if you want to get fit i would recommend crew which does essentially no damage to your joints
      • kss42, on 02/18/2008, -0/+6That is absolutely untrue. The human body was built to run long distances, and if you train it properly and consistently, it will remain strong and fit well into late life. Elite marathoner turned writer Amby Burfoot wrote a great piece for Runner's World about this topic: http://arthritis.webmd.com/features/does-running-c ...
        Read it, and if you're still not convinced, read the studies it references. If you have joint problems now, it's probably from not running enough or from unintelligent training methods.
    • KDyneria, on 02/18/2008, -0/+1Ditto, thank you.
    • nitesoulja, on 02/18/2008, -0/+1oh *****! so am !... 10/10 for the last piece of advice
    • Pritchard, on 02/18/2008, -0/+2Aye. I'm 17 and have been working on following that advice before it was given. I have to thank this guy for reminding me to keep a journal, no matter how much I hate having my own personal thoughts on paper or whatever. It's important.
  • amandakendle, on 02/18/2008, -4/+42Yep, I agree with nearly all of them. Pity I'm already 32 :-)
    • TypeEE, on 02/18/2008, -11/+2Kind of don't agree with "Make time to pursue your passion, no matter how busy you are." as that can be impossible with the path he is taking. May be get rid of watching TV and do what he would like to do. However, pursuing your passion can be time wasting, or it can takes a lot of trial and errors.
      • Coffeedemon, on 02/18/2008, -1/+10"However, pursuing your passion can be time wasting"
        If its truly your passion it is never a waste of time. We usually only find this out closer to the end of the time we have.
    • ninja0, on 02/18/2008, -0/+1it's never too late to start ;)
    • zdislaw, on 02/18/2008, -0/+4Take it from a 40-year-old: You're younger than you think. Start as many of these now as you can!
    • identifiedlogo, on 02/18/2008, -0/+4Are you going to be a 64 year old some day? What then...
    • identifiedlogo, on 02/19/2008, -0/+1Watch Six Feet Under...
  • AmyLillard, on 02/18/2008, -3/+41Great stuff. But what a great thought too - all the crappy mistakes we make, all the debt we rack up, all the wrong turns we feel like we make, are extremely valuable in the long run. I absolutely agree.
    • mimilena, on 02/18/2008, -2/+3Although they are true, I would have to say a lot of those would be common sense to someone with a healthy mind. There are a lot of these, "Things I wish I knew when I was younger" stories on digg. Honestly, I was hoping to see some secrets.

      For example:
      1. Having troubles finding a partner? Whiten your teeth, shave your face, keep your hair looking normal, and build muscles. We girls find those guys a lot more attractive.
      - Buy some crest whitestrips - how hard can it be?
      - Almost the time, your beard art looks ugly; especially if it's "unique".
      - Pony tails do not make you look hardcore. They make you look like a computer programmer.
      - Eventhough in life, you don't need all that muscle, it makes you look better and some guys develop confidence to actually ask girls out. Don't take steriods or look like a muscleman, just look like a healthy dude.

      2. Got acne and tried everything? Try flax seed oil.
      - Flax seed oil can reduce production of a certain oil on your skin that causes acne.
      - You keep popping your pimples and you'll get scars.
      - You think it doesn't matter? Think of girls who have a face full of pimples; it's the same thing.

      3. Most people go through a "showoff spending" phase in life. Try to keep that at a minimal.
      - Don't drive a souped up car that makes you look like a teenager.
      - Don't wear baggy gangster clothing unless you want to attract similar girls.
      - A few brand name clothing is OK, but if you do it all the time, it looks like you're trying too hard. The smaller the logo, the nicer it is.
      - Don't get a big ass diamond stud earring. The smallest ones look nice; big ones look fake.

      3. Sit on the bus and listen to music? Invest in noise canceling headphones
      - You can listen to music at a lower volume to retain your hearings

      4. Buy a house; don't rent. Rent is like throwing away your money
      - Sometimes, the house price may drop faster than rental payments, but most people are not knowledgeable enough to make such predictions.
      - It is safer to get a mortgage instead of paying rent hoping that house prices will drop.

      5. Act with your brains and not your emotions.
      - Don't let people take over your emotions. You end up doing stupid things that you regret.
      - When you act with your brains, you'll know what's right to do. This will make you a more likable person to others and will benefit you in every way.
  • seriocomic, on 02/18/2008, -13/+7Sage advice!
    • twollamalove, on 02/18/2008, -7/+2its all the same *****. this article is on digg in a new incarnation every other day
  • AmirAhmad86, on 02/18/2008, -13/+6Good stuff.
  • Calculusaurus, on 02/18/2008, -17/+280"Tequila is seriously evil."
    Words of wisdom. ***** tequila.
    • smacksaw, on 02/18/2008, -18/+4Yeah, but then we'd all have to win A Shot At Love With Tila Tequila

      I mean...I'm sure everyone will get their turn on her someday, but still...I'd put that lower on the priority list.
    • mrblonde314, on 02/18/2008, -13/+4You're all just a bunch of amateurs! Its the only liquor that even does the trick now days. [ I just realized I'm a raging alcoholic =( ]
      • vivalavey9o, on 02/18/2008, -0/+8i couldn't help but laugh. bend over and kiss your own ass a bit more
    • SweetChinMusic, on 02/18/2008, -5/+2Maybe we should tell Kevin and Alex before the live St. Louis show.
    • FatPhizzle, on 02/18/2008, -2/+15yea i hate tequila. One time I went into a bar/restaurant and ordered a round of shots for my friends but little did I know that they were $11 a shot! So I ended up paying over $110 on one round of 8 shots. Worst investment of my life.
      • turbopantsdx, on 02/18/2008, -3/+0were you doing shots of patron or something?
      • sw1ft, on 02/18/2008, -2/+23What the hell kind of tequila were you drinking that prompted you to leave a $22+ tip?
        • hobOboy4, on 02/18/2008, -0/+27I think he's still drunk
        • FatPhizzle, on 02/19/2008, -0/+1I have no clue how that total came out but thats what the check said! Must have been taxes and tips included. I don't remember truthfully. BTW the tequila was petron
      • worldsbestgamer, on 02/18/2008, -0/+3Your bar either sucks, or you ordered from the top shelf.
      • colinmhayes, on 02/19/2008, -0/+1i hope you were drinking frida kahlo or something as good.
    • worldsbestgamer, on 02/18/2008, -2/+8It really is not much different than other forms of alcohol. Try drinking a good strong bourbon.
      • burgermind, on 02/18/2008, -0/+2It's a bit of folk wisdom that tequilla has bad mojo. This shows that people can be stupid...
      • colinmhayes, on 02/19/2008, -0/+1I don't understand this concept of only trying bourbon.
    • StemsNSeeds, on 02/18/2008, -1/+2evil or not, at least i can say i ate the worm
    • h0merg0mez, on 02/18/2008, -0/+33Hey man, ***** you.

      Sincerely,
      Tequila
      • jd33, on 02/18/2008, -0/+3You can say that about any form of alcohol if you drink too much of it. So stop knocking my favorite shot.
    • worthone, on 02/18/2008, -4/+2No, ***** the RIAA! Oh, sorry- I do that all the time...
    • Troy64, on 02/18/2008, -2/+2Jose Cuervo you are friend of mine!!!!!!
      • JRW5061, on 02/19/2008, -1/+1Cuervo is garbage. Caremal color added to make it look aged. Vile *****.
    • jd33, on 02/18/2008, -0/+4Why??????? What's the deal with Tequila? Please fill me in. I've never had anyting but good times.
    • SkaAgent11, on 02/18/2008, -0/+6God I love tequilla.
    • Culero, on 02/18/2008, -0/+6MAS Tequila!
    • itsameericle, on 02/18/2008, -0/+2My 20th birthday was going great until I took all those little paper cup shots of cheap tequila.... After that point, nobody had any clue how I ended where I did......evil tasty spirit haha
    • rmeddy, on 02/18/2008, -0/+1QuE?
    • juicebag, on 02/19/2008, -3/+3***** drugs in general.
      (alcohol is a drug, deal with it)
      • JustFender, on 02/19/2008, -1/+2is pot a drug? cos ive had nothing but good times, to paraphrase the late great "never hurt nobody, never killed nobody, never lost a house a friend a family a car a job, laughed my ass off, and went about my day"
      • JoeDiggsIt, on 02/19/2008, -0/+4moderation moderation moderation
    • krakkinem, on 02/19/2008, -0/+3Tequila is not inherently evil, it's one of my favorite drinks. Just use it properly.
  • rdblkny, on 02/18/2008, -15/+5What a great read !
  • dareiff, on 02/18/2008, -15/+10Brilliant author. I read all his stuff; with this one, you've got to pass it along.
    • WildTurkey00, on 02/18/2008, -0/+8Don't get me wrong, I def enjoyed this article, but let's not get too quick to tossing around the word "Brilliant". There's some good advice here but you're not brilliant when you realize you need to save money and eat healthy foods.
  • NGNR, on 02/18/2008, -4/+34I’m only 23, I’m not someone who is old and wise with a track record to prove it.
    But I agree with him 100% on this. I’ve been living my life by similar guidelines, some things you learn via trial and error or old age, other things you learn from friends and family, or observing other people(in general). I just wish I had started a few things earlier.
  • StanleyKoolPrik, on 02/18/2008, -6/+198...and don't forget to wear sunscreen,
    • MiDri, on 02/18/2008, -3/+43and a towel!
      • mrloco, on 02/18/2008, -1/+47Oh....man.... I'm so high right now... I dunno whats goin on.
      • AmICoolNow, on 02/18/2008, -0/+17Am I the only one who would rather have this be a Hitchhiker's Guide reference than a Towely reference?
        • Tatsumi2, on 02/18/2008, -3/+1The movie ruined it for everyone. Was an amazing trilogy though, last one was kinda lame though.
      • Culero, on 02/18/2008, -0/+4GS-401:You're going to have to choose between their lives, and, getting high.
        TOWELIE: You *****.
    • beloitpiper, on 02/18/2008, -4/+2Do you know what's in that stuff? It could be zebra cum! You just don't know...
      • YMBwithVD, on 02/18/2008, -0/+1...instead, I use a wonderful American product...Crisco. For a buck fifty, you can buy a whole tub of it and share it with everybody at the beach.
        • beloitpiper, on 02/27/2008, -0/+1I'm glad you got that. Seems like some people aren't Lewis Black fans.
    • achoo5000, on 02/18/2008, -1/+1there's no sex in the champagne room.
  • omnithought, on 02/18/2008, -19/+198I'd like to add one more: don't ever use credit cards to buy anything. Use them for reserving things that require a credit card and that's it. You think "It's just another hundred dollars, I can pay that off easy!" It WILL add up fast and next thing you know you have a big fat credit card bill every month. Rule of thumb when considering a purchase: if you don't have the money in the bank, you can't afford it right now.
    • Schrodinger, on 02/18/2008, -1/+16I had to condition my mind differently to control credit cards. Think of sales tax. Doesnt it suck paying that extra 5-8 bucks on every 100? Well, take that tax, and add that APR to it when figuring out the price of something. 8%, 16%, 24%? Your item, plus 5%, Now, is it really wroth it to pay an extra 20 bucks, 50 bucks, etc. for something because you can't wait a few weeks and save?
      • Coffeedemon, on 02/18/2008, -1/+2I think in much the same way. If I can afford the item I want I'll look at either using savings or the credit card. If the time I gain with the item outweighs the cost (sort of what that item and the convenience of purchasing it now are worth in terms of my time and what I normally spend on similar things.
        Same with luxury purchases in general (always starting on the premise of whether or not I can afford an item). I bought an Xbox 360 last year for ~450. Over the course of that year I've spent way less than if I was getting my diversions from hanging at the bar (doesn't hold too many mysteries for a 33 year old) or going to theaters (the state of recent films helped too) based on how much I used it and even factoring in buying many games. I could afford a PS3 too but at present can`t justify it in terms of time and cost if its competing against my 360 and PC.
    • ucg1, on 02/18/2008, -6/+62Credit cards are fine for people who have some self control and can stick to a budget. Of course it's good advice for people with a spending problem.

      Using credit cards has advantages in certain situations. You can refute faulty/fraudulent charges more easily. Charges to your check card instantly removes the cash from your account. I know someone who had a faulty charge on her check card from some company she was dealing with online. The company recognized their error and corrected it, but it was still several days before she got her money back and that caused problems for her because she had other bills to pay. If that was a credit card it wouldn't have been a problem. With your bank account you may be able to refute fraudulent charges, but its much more difficult, and in the meantime your money is gone. With credit cards fraudulent charges are simple to deal with.

      Learn how to budget and have some self control so that you can pay off your credit card bill every month and have some money to spare to put in a retirement/investment account. The credit card is not the problem, its you.
      • jpmoney03, on 02/18/2008, -0/+7Also rewards points on a credit card pay you as long as you don't have to pay interest every month. With a check card you normally get little kickback(.25% in my case) if any at all. I get at least three times that much back by using my credit card and paying it off at the end of the month. Also this leaves you with a higher average balance in your checking account if it pays interest. But mess up one month and pay interest and all that benefit is meaningless.
      • crawf061, on 02/18/2008, -0/+5There are also rewards associated with credit cards. I always look at my bank account to make sure I have the money before I buy something. Then I buy it with the credit card. When December rolls around I usually have a pretty good amount of cash back to put towards Christmas purchases. They key here is pay in full every month. Otherwise the interest payments completely negate the rewards.

        *edit after reading further-- so apparently I'm not the first one to come up with this strategy.
    • ddrirc, on 02/18/2008, -5/+80There's nothing wrong with credit cards if you know the correct way to use them. (eg paying them off every month)
      • zephyr42, on 02/18/2008, -2/+6I actually learned this on my own without actually being prompted to do it.... I bought my 360 on a credit card and paid it off over the course of 3 months and decided that paying interest on something is bogus when I have cash in the bank.... I have not had a carry over balance since (age: 21)
      • spargett, on 02/18/2008, -4/+1And why would you use a credit card if you already have the money? My check card works great and it doesn't get my thousands of dollars in debt.

        Actually, I just thought of the AMEX story with the iPhone. Nice time to use a specific credit card.
    • Sansui, on 02/18/2008, -1/+20Agreed - I put everything I possibly can on my credit card. I use cash maybe every 4 or 5 months, and the only thing I use checks for are rent and utilities. I just treat the credit card like a debit card - if I don't have the money in savings/checkings to pay for whatever I'm buying, I don't buy it.

      At the end of the year I get a nice credit card report that sums up my purchases in tidy categories, as well as a cashback bonus in January that pays for a little bit of the christmas bills.
      • TonyLocNE, on 02/18/2008, -0/+3I tried that, but with epic failure.. Haven't dared to have a credit card since, I won't even carry a debit card.
        • tech42er, on 02/19/2008, -1/+2You tried it, with epic failure? You mean you just spent beyond your means for no reason? Well, I guess if you don't think you have the self-control, it's better to go without.
          • TonyLocNE, on 02/19/2008, -0/+1well when your paychecks are being garnished and you are left with $250-300 a month and have over $600 in bills alone, then can you explain to me how one would be able to remain living in a house and not on the street?
    • simongzster, on 02/18/2008, -2/+46Use a credit card for EVERYTHING. Know your budget, and use self control. Pay off your card every month. Get a card with rewards you can use.
      • kenplaysviola, on 02/18/2008, -0/+7EXACTLY! I use my credit card for everything and I get 3% cash back (Chase Bank). If I earn up to $200 cash back, then I get an extra $50! And no, I am not in debt and I pay my credit card off entirely every month. If you have a budget and self control, then you can take advantage of offers like these.
      • Vic333, on 02/18/2008, -0/+2I do the same here. The method works great for me! I wouldn't suggest it for obsessives or those with poor planning skills, though.
    • z28com, on 02/18/2008, -16/+3Disregard the thing about the credit cards. Get as MANY AS YOU CAN. My wife has a whole wallet full of them to the point where her wallet won't even close. This country is going down the tubes. The US Dollar is losing value faster than it ever has. No gov't in history has ever lasted more than 200 years. Ours is reaching its end. Get all of the credit you can. Life is short. You could get in a car accident and be in a coma or diagnosed with some weird disease right before you know it. Live life like tomorrow was your last day on earth. Rack up as much debt as you can and DIE BROKE and in debt! LOTS OF DEBT. I don't understand why seniors don't have $300,000 in credit card debt when they die. You don't have to pay it once you're in the ground so screw it. I can tell you at being WAY OVER 30, if I had to do it all over again, I would get a stack of 100 credit cards if I could. They would have come in handy during all of those layoffs at the Fortune 100 and 500 companies I worked at. You have something to fall back at during months of unemployment once you see how far unemployment will get you. At least you can rotate balances and still eat at nice restaurants while being unemployed.
      • robbielaney, on 02/18/2008, -3/+4great advice. I will go out and get in 300k of debt right now just because of you. Thanks z28com!!!
        • z28com, on 02/18/2008, -7/+1That's the spirit!! All of you people who gave me the negative diggs can go pound sand. I AM LIVING THE LIFE!! While all of you dumb asses have jobs, I get to stay home like a 65 year old man... but I AM NOT 65!!! And I have a nice monthly income. I make THOUSANDS per month and I get to sleep in daily.
          • robbielaney, on 02/19/2008, -0/+1can go pound sand. what does that even mean?
      • Rocketbird, on 02/18/2008, -2/+2You know debt is transferred to your next of kin?
        • SammyJr, on 02/18/2008, -0/+2No, it just becomes the responsibility of your estate when you die, so if your debts exceed the size of your estate, your kids get nothing... not even your debt.
    • freethrowtommy, on 02/18/2008, -0/+7I don't agree with this either. I use my credit card mainly so I don't have to carry cash. It is also thru my bank so I go online and pay it off with my bank account almost immediately. So I agree that you shouldn't spend what you don't have, but they are very convenient when used correctly.
      • emildorbell, on 02/18/2008, -2/+1That seems like a weird way of doing it. You should get a card connected directly to that bank account of yours.
        • Jektal, on 02/18/2008, -0/+3No rewards/bonuses.

          I use my credit card (chase amazon.com) for my daily purchases and go online every couple days and pay the bill from my bank account.
        • SammyJr, on 02/18/2008, -0/+3No fraud protection and if a company screws up, you won't get your money back for several days.

          Its best to pay with a Credit Card and just pay off your balance every month. It helps you build credit, too.
    • mrblonde314, on 02/18/2008, -2/+14Actually, one of the best things you can do when you're 18 is get ONE credit card with a small limit on it. Pay that ***** off as you go. Very easy to do with online banking / payments. Credit is something that takes years to establish, even if its always been perfect. My rule of thumb is that I should always have my credit limit in my savings account before I use it. So if I have a $2,000 limit I should have $2,000 in my savings to back it up. Plus you never know when an emergency will arise where you need a quick $1,000, i.e. car accident. Go through life having ONE credit card and make sure its not a department store. Those things have such high APR rates that you'll run yourself into debt forever if you can't pay them off in time. My girlfriend bought a Gamecube and some games / accessories 2 years ago for about $250 and since the APR was 24% and she spent without having the money to back it up, she has now paid $500+ for that thing because she only pays the minimum payment. Oh! That reminds me. NEVER pay the minimum payment. Its designed to keep you in debt FOREVER!
    • ictharus, on 02/18/2008, -0/+1I think what you're recommending is getting a debit card instead.
    • codyg1985, on 02/18/2008, -0/+1http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-726450075 ...
    • ggacid, on 02/19/2008, -0/+2Credit Cards and Bars don't mix!
    • tech42er, on 02/19/2008, -0/+1Credit cards are great if you pay them off each month and almost never use cash. This way, you'll get the rewards without the interest or debt.
  • Robozilla, on 02/18/2008, -35/+8These all seem pretty damn obvious. If you didn't know these things already, you're stupid, I would hate to have seen this guy when he was 18.
    • ucg1, on 02/18/2008, -5/+4I agree, many of the things on this list just made me think "what a moron."
    • buenit, on 02/18/2008, -4/+4Wow, both you guys sound so smart and intelligent. Cause people that make mistakes are morons and stupid. /sarcasm
    • digitalpencil, on 02/18/2008, -1/+2Agreed.. I'm 22, have made lots of stupid decisions same as everyone but none of these points are particularly enlightening, this is just common-sense.
    • EatUrKids, on 02/19/2008, -1/+1How old are you and how many mistakes have you made......thats what I thought Robozilla
  • aaa558638, on 02/18/2008, -22/+9是啊，我觉得很不错的，这个文章
    • dyranios2, on 02/18/2008, -3/+8I always say this!
    • mattmcm, on 02/18/2008, -3/+23I couldn't agree more, but your closing statement was lacking the pizazz I grew to expect from your previous points.
    • neko6, on 02/18/2008, -0/+2I'm glad you liked the article, but not everyone understands Chinese (or know of Google Translate ;) )
    • julianrod, on 02/18/2008, -0/+8It's not 文, it's 错. Learn how to spell!!!
    • crawf061, on 02/18/2008, -0/+5这篇文章是好的但您的评论缺乏
    • yojiffyskippy, on 02/18/2008, -0/+2Easy for you to say.
    • digsuxx, on 02/18/2008, -2/+1你的臉是醜陋
    • DarkSamus, on 02/18/2008, -1/+4that's what she said
    • tech42er, on 02/19/2008, -0/+1Simplified? Please.
  • crazybugger, on 02/18/2008, -6/+7Good Article! I have not been following some of the advices given. Will make an effort. And stuff like these make Digg worthwhile.
    I would like to add one more:
    Watch Others and learn from their experience, not just from yours.
  • JoeB4ever, on 02/18/2008, -2/+130but trust me on the sunscreen.
    • MissMyZDtv, on 02/23/2008, -0/+1I'm glad some people remember the music reference

  • inlovingmemory, on 02/18/2008, -8/+86being young and arrogant i wont take this seriously just yet,I'll learn from my own mistakes thank you.
  • smacksaw, on 02/18/2008, -8/+16Compound interest and home ownership.

    Instead of spending on rent, I say move somewhere cheap and buy a home. There's lots of places like Western NY, Ohio, Kansas, Oklahoma, etc where you can own a home for a few hundred dollars a month and then you're building equity and saving money. People today don't realise that the way to build wealth is your real estate, ie your home.

    Beyond that, putting $50-$100 a month in an investment with compound interest or a high-risk ROI (while you're young enough to recover from it tanking), by the time you're in your 40's you can consider retirement depending on how well you've done.

    One less XBOX 360 game per month can mean you're a millionaire by the time you're ready to retire and then you can do whatever you want.

    I wished I had lived in someplace other than super-expensive California and Seattle and been putting money towards savings, not towards debt service.
    • nbcaffeine, on 02/18/2008, -1/+11Yeah, but then you'd have to live in WNY. Nobody wants that. It is damn cheap to live out here though.
      • Coffeedemon, on 02/18/2008, -0/+3Yeah, but then you'd have to live in WNY. Nobody wants that``
        Till you`re getting tired of the bar scene and living downtown all the time... by then you hope the house prices haven`t skyrocketed in the areas you previously had no interest in.
    • MiDri, on 02/18/2008, -0/+11Ya come on down and buy a home in oklahoma, we're the most boring state you'll ever live in! You'll probably just end up killing your family and your self! THAT SAVES BIG $$$!... I hate this state...
    • whorunbartertwn, on 02/18/2008, -1/+16Woah you have to get a sick rate of return to retire in your 40s by saving $50-$100 per month.

      $100/month compounding at 10% annually for 25 years would be about $130k. That $130k would be worth about $60K in today dollars assuming 3% inflation. Taking the 4% rule you'd be living on $60k x .04 = $2400 annually or about $200/month. I'd recommend the Wal-Mart generic brand over Purina cat food, it's about 9 cents cheaper per can.

      Even if you managed 15% on your investments over 25 years you'd be at about $325k = $150 purchasing power = $500/month to live on.

      The gist of your post is great. People should definitely make every effort to save and use the power of time/compounding to reach their financial goals, but retiring in your 40s requires a very rare ability to save 25% or more of salary over a couple decades.
      • smacksaw, on 02/18/2008, -0/+1I wasn't saying a millioniare at 40, just that you could think about retiring at 40. It depends on where you live and the cost.

        You have to remember - your home is your investment as well. It's part of your net worth. If you get a 20 or 30 year mortgage and start at age 18 like I said, you're probably close to if not paid off at age 40, especially if you pay the home off earlier since you're wasting half of your payment on interest. If you buy a home for 100k in today's dollars, in 20 or 30 years it's going to be worth double that at a minimum. Probably more.

        You may not be quite at a million in your NET WORTH, but you should be close. But by the time you're of retirement age, you most certainly will be. And if you're smart and in your 30's you start paying your home off more aggressively you're farther ahead. The extra money for retirement should come from not having a mortgage anymore which will rocket you well over that million mark.

        Sometimes in these posts two concepts tend to get interpreted as one, but I was trying to say that saving and buying a house could get you ready for retirement and/or you could retire a millionaire at retirement age, which I assume is 65-ish for most people depending on how important social security is for them.
        • whorunbartertwn, on 02/19/2008, -0/+1Ahh gotcha. The house thing is surely part of net worth but as they say "you can't eat siding" so unless you sell it the value won't help your monthly income, unless one looks at it from view of reducing expenses since no mortgage or rent. I'm a homeowner myself with a completely paid off home and it certainly does give a stronger sense of financial security.

          I'd like to retire in my 40s but it's so hard to figure out if I'm on track because of the great x-factor: healthcare costs. If one isn't working and isn't old enough for medicare you go private, and I've no clue what to budget since it's too difficult to guess how my health and how the costs will be in the future. If you want to be safe and have $500/month or so for health care costs that's a pretty significant amount you'd have to add to your net worth to safely withdraw.

          Sometimes I think I'll say hell with it and move to someplace warm where $2k/month income stream from invested assets = live like King but has a good healthcare system and relatively safe for Westerners. Thailand, Panama, etc.

          Best of luck to you in your pursuit of financial freedom Smacksaw2, I'm quite sure someone with your attitude and wisdom will find success.
    • amiches, on 02/18/2008, -1/+13Unless, of course, you're in an industry that requires you to live in an expensive city. Or you're young and want to remain as mobile as possible for career purposes. Owning a home is well and good but it's not for everybody at their stage of life and it's not a guaranteed wealth booster - ask anyone who's trying to sell right now.
    • CelloZach, on 02/18/2008, -0/+9What if I buy XB360 games used and cheap.... ? so i buy 4 of them at a time..... oh crap
    • dood, on 02/18/2008, -0/+6Be careful of the "hidden costs" of living far from your workplace, however. The extra wear and tear on your car, unless you're lucky enough to have mass transit to your cheap region. The temptation to eat out instead of making food at home, because you just spent an hour in your car or two hours on the bus heading to/from work. The loss in personal productivity (keeping a clean home, learning new skills, etc) while you're commuting. Making friends in the city and not being able to hang out with them, without spending even more on parking or on food.
    • Tenareth, on 02/18/2008, -0/+3Home ownership has a lot of costs associated with it, and more importantly is not liquid. If you need to move quickly, you'll find out just how bad that can be, especially considering less and less companies pay for relocation.

      You also never "own" the house because of property taxes, which can suddenly skyrocket unexpectedly. Home ownership can be good, but it isn't the easiest way to make money, and involves trade-offs.

      I was fortunate to sell my house just before the crash started (literally about 2 months ahead), or I'd be stuck like some of my old neighbors with a house for over a year that I'm not living in. Gas prices made long-haul commuter towns suddenly very expensive.

      I know of at least 3 coworkers and ex-coworkers that are stuck with a mortgage on a house they don't live in and have trouble renting (4bedroom houses don't tend to rent easily).
  • iamdon, on 02/18/2008, -7/+209you missed one...Internet is not the cure of loneliness..get *out there* and spend some real quality time with family and friends
    • Scarfy, on 02/18/2008, -2/+11Where I live, internet is all I've got. :/
      • BlueSkyfish, on 02/18/2008, -0/+4Nothing for 500 miles but internet and penguins...
    • NinjaJedi, on 02/18/2008, -0/+6Agreed!!
      Otherwise you'll end up like him... http://uk.youtube.com/user/somegreybloke
    • whoaohh, on 02/18/2008, -0/+23and stop playing World of Warcraft!
      • brad3378, on 02/19/2008, -1/+1I met a guy with a HUGE addiction to that game.........It makes no sense to me because he's got such a F'ing Hot wife.
    • gitarnestas, on 02/18/2008, -1/+0I couldn't agree more.
    • Rocketbird, on 02/18/2008, -0/+7I can't tell you how much I agree with this statement. There's no substitute for genuine human contact.
  • tahafcuk, on 02/18/2008, -6/+1wow..thanks for the great list...I am just strtng to be on my own.. n this list will help me a lot..
    • ninja0, on 02/18/2008, -2/+3You sound like you're just starting... to take english.
  • jm4847, on 02/18/2008, -28/+4Stupid preachy list, "dad". And no, I'm not a teenager.
    • KSUdesigner, on 02/18/2008, -1/+10"A 20 year-old male who joined Digg on January 28th, 2008"

      You are BARELY not a teenager.
  • wafflesomd, on 02/18/2008, -18/+7***** saving for retirement.

    I couldn't save for that if I wanted to.
  • dano333333, on 02/18/2008, -1/+17If there's just one thing I could tell a younger version of myself to avoid it would be credit card debt. I can cripple you financially and take years to pay off.
    • KyjL, on 02/18/2008, -2/+13Well then GET THE HELL AWAY FROM ME
      • mattbeetee, on 02/19/2008, -0/+1Dugg for making me giggle. I have NO credit cards though. I manage my money by myself, and it's only when I actually have it that I choose what to do with it. Maybe it's not the best way, but I have a horribly addictive personality and that can lead to spending sprees.
  • dev3, on 02/18/2008, -7/+5wow!
    I'm 22, and I can see that all of this makes sense, But I'm pretty much sure that I won't be following this advice..till maybe I am 35 or something, and that's when it will strike me, that I should have followed these lessons
    • lolinyerface, on 02/18/2008, -0/+9And the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. History repeats itself. Look at it in the making right now!
  • banido, on 02/18/2008, -12/+5Life? Don´t talk to me about life...
    /emo
  • ammar456, on 02/18/2008, -2/+3very inspiring... amazing information for the youngsters, but unfortunately when you're young and wreckless, half of this stuff probably doesnt make much sense.
  • santixar, on 02/18/2008, -0/+118"Experience is a comb which nature gives us when we are bald"
  • Totz83, on 02/18/2008, -3/+6Just live life, abiding by these musings would make life boring. Who wants to be pedantic? Make mistakes and laugh about them later
  • gencha, on 02/18/2008, -10/+2421 Writing *****, everyone of my age already knows, into my blog is a ***** waste of time.
    • rockefeller2, on 02/19/2008, -0/+216. "Pay more attention to blogs when you first hear about them. They’re more than just journals."
      Wow, what a coincidence. Pay more attention to blogs. I don't detect a conflict of interest here.
  • MrTulip, on 02/18/2008, -0/+9the "problem" with all these well meaning advice is that you and i and everyone have to live through our own experience to *really* get it. maybe a lung cancer case in the family or a bankrupt friend helps to avoid some mistakes. but when we finally get it we're old, preachy geezers (is that even a proper word?).
    /cpt.obvious
  • imLissy, on 02/18/2008, -2/+19I keep reading these lists and I have yet to see anything that makes me go, hmm, you know what, I never thought of that.
    • flipperBaby, on 02/18/2008, -2/+6There's some new obsession with these kinds of vague, common sense advice type lists. Im personally not impressed. I learned all this from befriending people who were older than me...not reading the condensed version on some silly website. By the way I hate zen habits.
    • pnoque, on 03/12/2008, -0/+0I agree! I thought I was the only one who felt this way. I always start reading a Zen Habits post, and about 3 sentences in I think, Wow, this is worthless.
  • Mothrog, on 02/18/2008, -19/+10"Buying that new shiny SUV because … well, because it was going to help me with women."

    "I always knew that I was supposed to budget and track my spending, when I became an adult. I just was too lazy to do it. And I didn’t have a good idea of how to actually do it."

    " I thought I was being smart by buying used, but I didn’t check it out carefully enough."

    People take advice from this assclown? Seriously?
    • lolinyerface, on 02/18/2008, -2/+17OMG somebody humbles themselves and admits fault on past occurrences!!?!
      Flame them! Cast that stone, Mothrog! You're as pure as a daisy!
      • Mothrog, on 02/18/2008, -0/+2There's not being perfect and then there's so monumentally ***** stupid that you don't look over a used car before buying it.
        • DarkSamus, on 02/18/2008, -0/+2i know dude, he didn't even ask me for a carfax bahahahha cha ching!
    • ucg1, on 02/18/2008, -6/+4Agreed, what a ***** a moron.
    • simplechris, on 02/18/2008, -4/+2shut up asshat. you aint perfect, this guy wrote alot of decent advice! this article was quality!
      • dext3r, on 02/18/2008, -4/+3His decent advice is ***** basic *****. Inspect a used car? Really? Spend time with your kids? Good. I don't have kids and when I do, I will make sure to beat them so they don't turn out like this *****. Goddamn, I need my coffee.
      • Mothrog, on 02/18/2008, -0/+1The only people that would find this useful are morons.
    • z28com, on 02/18/2008, -6/+16Hell no! Forget that SUV. Get a BMW 7-series or a C6 if you're looking for women and then drive down by South Beach or the Ft. Lauderdale strip. I remember being at Baha Beach Club in Ft. Lauderdale and many chicks there will say, "Let me see your car keys" to see if you're *****. You only live once. BUY THAT CAR NOW. Once you have a wife and kids, IT'S ALL DOWN HILL from there. Get all of the toys while you can. Don't listen to these ass-clowns. Me and my wife both don't have jobs right now and we have tons of credit cards. We both retired at age 40 and neither of us have Bachelor Degrees. You need to be an ENTREPRENEUR, and THAT MY FRIEND, they do not teach in school. Instead, they teach everyone to join the system and be broke. They want a lot of indians and NO CHIEFS. Look at all of the people who start companies. What the hell do you need college for when you're not trying to get a job? They say the "A" and "B" students are the ones who end up working for the "C" students. All of my college friends are BROKE while I'm the one driving the brand new cars and being retired at an early age... and I DIDN'T DO IT from going to college or not being in debt.
      • MiDri, on 02/18/2008, -2/+9If you're telling the truth you did it with some courage and a bit of luck -- I'd wager that most a/b students are good at doing and learning what they are told, not thinking out side the box -- which is where the big $ is.

        Almost every one gets in debt, deal with it -- it's a part of life, especially for Americans.
      • TridenTBoy, on 02/18/2008, -0/+5So... You sold your body didn't you?
      • turbopantsdx, on 02/18/2008, -2/+3that's what it's all about though isn't it? the six figure salary, beating off to your bmw, and a ***** ton of infected pussy. I WANT TO LIVE JUST LIKE YOU.
      • DarkSamus, on 02/18/2008, -0/+5pics or it didn't happen
  • robphillips, on 02/18/2008, -12/+2How come it feels like every list of wisdom that hits digg is from old emo guys.. To be taken lightly-- quit crying about what you wish you would have known.
    • mGARANDEUR1, on 02/18/2008, -0/+1Life lessons on digg are always pretty lame.
  • jonr, on 02/18/2008, -10/+147Have sex. Lot's of it.
    • IndigoMoss, on 02/18/2008, -3/+37Protected sex that is.
      • fistanareous, on 02/19/2008, -0/+0Protect your right to have sex!
    • neko6, on 02/18/2008, -11/+16Actually, one of the things you understand as you grow older and wiser is that some of the sex you've had was either a waste of time or occasionally even really bad for you.
      Being able to sometimes decline sex is a sign of real maturity (I'm still not there, but I'm working on it ;) )
      • mrblonde314, on 02/18/2008, -4/+28Sex is proven to be one of the healthiest acts a human being can do. We have evolved as beings to crave it. It is physically and mentally stimulating. Sex has absolutely nothing to do with maturity or the lack thereof. Maybe your sex is a waste of time but speak for yourself.
        • Rocketbird, on 02/18/2008, -0/+6Yeah, if it's with the right person. If you've got a problem and you have sex to deal with that problem, then it ends up being no different from any mind-altering substance.
      • ninja0, on 02/18/2008, -4/+7sorry neko6, mrblonde314 knows what he's talking about. its true.
        • hfactor, on 02/18/2008, -0/+3Well, they´re both right... neko said "some of the sex" and "sometimes decline".
      • burgermind, on 02/18/2008, -1/+2Hmm, are you a lady? Never heard a man say such a thing...Just asking.
        • sougly, on 02/18/2008, -1/+2I'm a man. I decline sex all the time because I find it boring. I'll only consider it for procreation eventually.
    • rmeddy, on 02/18/2008, -1/+4Does your hand count?
    • CJinNC, on 02/19/2008, -0/+1Sage advice, I regret every single time I "passed" college or in my 20's to get loaded or bc I thought there might be awkwardness bc I did not have "strong feelings" towards the girl. Jeezus, I wish I had just shut up and had fun ... no lies or bs, no one gets hurt stuff so I would have even more fond memories in the 50 years of committed monogamy I now enjoy.,
    • balwanir2000, on 02/20/2008, -0/+1amen bro
  • Rozailawati, on 02/18/2008, -0/+11Cant understand this program...please help me!!
    • ileftfark, on 02/18/2008, -0/+6I dug this up, just to show life isn't fair.
  • TwwIX, on 02/18/2008, -12/+2Advice?
    All i can see is opinions.
    • simplechris, on 02/18/2008, -1/+3so what is advice then?

      this guy is giving advice based on his experiences? so whats your problem?
    • TwwIX, on 02/18/2008, -3/+2My problem? "Advice" giving bloggers.
  • Lanefair, on 02/18/2008, -3/+75I can't be bothered to read it, but I'll add something anyway:

    Take your own lunch to work everyday. Yeah it's a hassle buying the ingredients, but you'll lose weight and save a load of pounds/bucks. When you buy a sandwich in a shop it's full of salt mayo cheese and god knows what else.
    • simplechris, on 02/18/2008, -0/+7since i started taking my own lunch to work im saving 50 quid a month and feeling alot better for it! it means i can afford an extra night out every month and can afford those little things that you always forget to budget for.
    • fokov, on 02/18/2008, -0/+1Correct. Where I'm living one day of eating out for lunch is a week of food. It can get boring if you don't try to mix things up, however, with all the money saved, it is ok to indulge once in a while and go out to eat.
    • Ikulus, on 02/18/2008, -0/+4But I like mayo and cheese.
    • kidlawless, on 02/18/2008, -3/+4Learning how to use serial commas helps, too.

      /wtf is "salt mayo cheese"?
      • IveGotTheRuns, on 02/18/2008, -0/+8I don't know but it sounds delicious.
    • breezytrees, on 02/18/2008, -1/+19I can attest to this! My life drastically changed as soon as I started making my own sandwiches. Before it was bleak, scary, and I was a premature ejaculator. Now I'm smarter, sexier, more confident, and can have sex for hours! Months after I started making my own sandwiches I got three promotions, a new BMW, and a girlfriend who enjoys ballet competitions.
    • TBBucs, on 02/18/2008, -0/+5So, if you're British, taking your lunch to work will help you lose pounds AND gain pounds.

      wtf paradox.
    • tritisan, on 02/19/2008, -0/+1Good idea in theory. But y'know, I really like getting out and trying different neighborhood eateries, socializing with people you don't work with and such.
  • ileftfark, on 02/18/2008, -16/+2021. Don't listen to other people's advice on blogs. Live your own life, but be smart enough to learn from your own mistakes. You'll never know why not to touch the oven range until you burn yourself. Make mistakes. Sometimes they're fun, and sometimes you end up with Chlamydia... such is life.
    • neko6, on 02/18/2008, -2/+14"Don't listen to other people's advice on blogs." - I would say instead - always listen to other people's advice, learn to recognize when it would be right to accept it and when not to.
    • ligyron, on 02/18/2008, -1/+16Instead take advice from some random Digger?
      • breezytrees, on 02/18/2008, -0/+4I have this pink rash on my testicles. It itches and burns. Do you think it's Chlamydia? What should I do?
  • 3leggedHorse, on 02/18/2008, -2/+2 Interesting but i am a fatalist.
  • jandoble, on 02/18/2008, -1/+4thanks for allowing us to get a glimpse into the 'real' you, Leo. Your column makes you seem super-human, so I'm glad you shared with us your struggles.
  • TypeEE, on 02/18/2008, -3/+145All that time you spend digging on Digg is a huge, huge waste of time.
    • simplechris, on 02/18/2008, -0/+6irony eh!? but ye, i get you.
    • TridenTBoy, on 02/18/2008, -3/+6LIES!!!!!
    • fokov, on 02/18/2008, -2/+4some of it yes. But reading political commentary isn't a waste of time. Everyone should know what is going on.
      • starbar, on 02/18/2008, -1/+13Digg is NOT the place to go to research Politics.
        • nedev, on 02/18/2008, -0/+5Unless you want to research the good aspects of Obama and Ron Paul, or the bad aspects of everyone else.
    • ninja0, on 02/18/2008, -0/+1i think my teacher heard me laugh on this one.. haha... there have been days i spent hours doing it though :|
  • VinnieDaMac, on 02/18/2008, -4/+1521. Don't go swimming after you eat for 30 mins.
    • ninja0, on 02/18/2008, -0/+4why? I do that all the time =S
    • windandstorm, on 02/18/2008, -2/+8Myth busted! It's really only if you eat too much (eat until you are full) otherwise your fine.
      • sougly, on 02/18/2008, -1/+1I get cramps if I shower right after I eat.
        • bswinson, on 02/20/2008, -0/+1Those are actually crabs, not cramps.
    • tenchiws, on 02/18/2008, -1/+1122. Learn why misplaced modifiers make life more difficult.
    • Rocketbird, on 02/18/2008, -1/+10Good thing I only ate for 29 minutes. Pool party!
    • KingGorilla, on 02/18/2008, -1/+3Oh that's fine, it only takes me 29 minutes to eat
  • MarciB74, on 02/18/2008, -3/+2I so wish I had this article as a teenager. Its so simple and to the point!
  • Orderless, on 02/18/2008, -1/+38Attn: Bloggers
    I'd like a list, similar to this one, that is geared more towards a person who needs to ***** his life. Yes, it's for me.
  • MasterPlayer, on 02/18/2008, -8/+14"11.All that stuff that’s stressing you out — it won’t matter in 5 years, let alone 15." I don't quite agree with this one. I am in college and the grades I get determine what I will do when I am out of college, whether I go to graduate school or get a well paying job.
    • simplechris, on 02/18/2008, -1/+7fair point but i think leo was more making the point that the specific paper your worrying about wont directly be stressing you out anymore, so we should try and keep our stress realistic to the problem... i think... but fair point...
    • MiDri, on 02/18/2008, -1/+9Just because you get a degree does not mean you'll get a good job. Especially in this day and age. What will get you the job is determination and being intelligent, the degree just tells an employer that you've got more then remedial learning skills and you can be trusted to not rock the boat for 4-8 years.
      • kenplaysviola, on 02/18/2008, -1/+2Agreed. My current job as a systems and network administrator had NOTHING to do with my college degree (liberal arts). Wouldn't of mattered if my employer knew I barely passed, or that I passed with a 4.0 honors. What they do know is that I do a good job and continue learning about technology
      • nedev, on 02/18/2008, -2/+1Also networking networking and social skills. Maybe not so much for those in the tech industry, but still.
    • z28com, on 02/18/2008, -8/+2No, it's true. It really won't matter in 5 years. Trust me. I have done so much ***** that I now never regret. Look at all of the people who die every day... normal, average people who got in their car and crashed. A friend of mine flipped his car on I-95 a few months after finishing college. He was in a coma for a month. He has no recollection at all of ever stepping foot in a college. He doesn't remember anything for the past 7 years. It took him months to learn to walk and talk. So don't give me this you don't agree crap. I'm not buying it. Live life until it's fullest because you never know when your jig is up. You never know when some drunk mother *****-Bones you at a 70 MPH after he just ran a red light after having a bunch of gin and tonics. The Democrats want to come in and take away so many of our freedoms. Well, if they are so much into running our lives, then they can START WITH MAKING ALCOHOL illegal. Look at all of the traffic deaths that would end every day.
      • trdrstv, on 02/18/2008, -1/+7"Well, if they are so much into running our lives, then they can START WITH MAKING ALCOHOL illegal."

        Yeah, because that worked so well before.
        • jpmoney03, on 02/18/2008, -1/+2Shhh... I wanna be the next Capone that dude was rich.
      • blackrave, on 02/18/2008, -2/+1When?
    • mlavergn, on 02/18/2008, -3/+7Actually, I'd say WHO you know is 80% of getting that well paying job with 20% being WHAT you know.
    • bdbr, on 02/18/2008, -1/+6Your grades will be just one of many factors that employers wukk consider for your first job. Definitely once you land that job, no one will know or care what grades you made. In 15 years, no one will know or care what college you went to, much less your grades.
      • WholyHeretical, on 02/18/2008, -2/+2That's complete *****. What job is going to be, "Oh I see you only got a C in your Marketing class, or whatever. I guess we don't need to hire you." *****, it only matters if you got the piece of paper saying you spent Thousands of dollars and 4-5 years of your life obtaining that piece of paper. Grades are nothing but ways to make you feel good about doing the work you did.
    • MissDeeJay, on 02/18/2008, -2/+2Grades matter, but the point is not to let them control your life. When I graduated from college, I wasn't thinking "Man, I wish I had spent more time studying so I could get an A+ instead of an A-." I was thinking, "I wish I had spent more time with my friends and joining clubs." Don't disregard studying, but don't let it consume you because really in a few years it won't matter that much.
    • Rocketbird, on 02/18/2008, -1/+3Honestly, grades in college only matter if you want to go to grad school. It's recommended that you don't put your GPA on your resume when applying for jobs unless it's outstanding like a 3.8 or higher. And really you only use your college as a big part of your resume when you apply for your first job, since you go off experience after that)
      • vector13, on 02/19/2008, -1/+1Grades matter for more than just grad school. Try getting into i-banking or consulting. Grades matter a lot. I'm in graduate school and my friends interviewing in these industries get asked their undergraduate grades all the time.
    • CrazyZ, on 02/18/2008, -4/+3Not true buddy. I dropped out of college and I still make over 90k a year in the IT industry. Not panning college at all, but I still rate it as "small stuff". How's those student loans treating you :)
    • SammyJr, on 02/18/2008, -2/+3Its actually true. I didn't do that great in college (slacker) and it was rough the first two or three years out, but after 5 years, I have a good job and make more money than my great work ethic high GPA little brother!
  • bluenash, on 02/18/2008, -0/+7#6 Make it a Roth fund.
  • Accolade1, on 02/18/2008, -0/+1Excellent article! Definitely words to live by. The only one thing that I think he is missing is to do your best to live without regrets. What's done is done and worrying about what you did 20 years ago won't do you any good.
  • stellamaris, on 02/18/2008, -0/+13As meaningless as some of this advice is, I'm glad that there are 30 year old bloggers out there telling me their mistakes so I can at least recognize them when they're made, if not avoid them. I'm 20 and don't have any loans or a credit card yet, and I want to put it off for as long as possible (when I graduate next summer, maybe). Yet there are people my own age who tell me I should rack up some debt and pay it off with loans. I understand about building credit, but I'd rather do it when I actually have money to use, when I'm NOT a broke college student.
    • MiDri, on 02/18/2008, -3/+2College is one of the best times to build credit, take out an extra 1-2grand a year with your loans -- the interest is the lowest you will see for the rest of your life -- and a lot of times you won't have to pay it back until you graduate. If your smart and throw it into a portfolio or some other investment you can take it out when you graduate and pay it all back, get the credit + some extra cash.
      • z28com, on 02/18/2008, -4/+2I used to go to college with a Jamaican guy. Back in the day, he made his living with credit card fraud. He borrowed as much money from student loads as he could to pay for college and then invested it all. He used the money from the credit card fraud to put his way through college while he earned interest on money he got from the gov't. I followed up with him years later and he ended up getting busted for check fraud and what not. It was a shame. He was a smart mother *****.
        • tdogg241, on 02/18/2008, -0/+2Apparently not that smart if he got busted for check fraud.
    • z28com, on 02/18/2008, -3/+1Well, start now and get as many credit cards as you can. You'll need the credit during all of the layoffs in the future so you can afford to live since unemployment doesn't pay all of the bills. You need something to fall back on when yours savings are dried out and the rent is due. Trust me. My ass has been dragged through the mud so many times. If I would have known this, I would have applied for 100+ credit cards if I could.
    • yellowsnowcone, on 02/18/2008, -2/+2Here is some advice. Rack up a huge amount of debt, especially credit card debt. Then move out of the country where you can get a decent job and don't have to pay high US taxes. Trust me on that.
    • elhaf, on 02/18/2008, -0/+1Building good credit habits is more important than building credit. Don't build debt, especially credit card debt. That won't help your credit at all. Instead, buy a car. But don't get too hung up on building credit. Cash is better.
  • rsdigi, on 02/18/2008, -0/+2Nice advice, but sounds more of a midlife crisis to me.
    • simplechris, on 02/18/2008, -0/+1"I’m not a big believer in regrets … and I have learned tremendously from every single mistake … and my life is pretty great."

      doesnt sound much like crisis to me.
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