Nobody tells you in your 20s how much those years shape your 40s. And even if someone did, it’s hard to really believe them at the time.
The car payment, the apartment that stretched your budget, and the habit of upgrading every time you got a raise all feel small when you’re 25.
By 45, they’ve either turned into choices you have or into a stress you can’t get rid of.
The good news is that it works the other way too. Investing $500 a month from 25 to 45 at an 8% average return grows to about $295,000.
Most people never notice the $500 once they get used to living without it, but they notice the $295,000.
The car payment, the apartment that stretched your budget, and the habit of upgrading every time you got a raise all feel small when you’re 25.
By 45, they’ve either turned into choices you have or into a stress you can’t get rid of.
The good news is that it works the other way too. Investing $500 a month from 25 to 45 at an 8% average return grows to about $295,000.
Most people never notice the $500 once they get used to living without it, but they notice the $295,000.