What would you tell yourself in your 40s?

Question

If you could give advice to your younger self in your 40s what would it be?

matt_s · Accepted Answer

Don't be so quick to upgrade the "stuff" you have - cars, phones, computers, etc. You don't realize it and won't admit it but you're playing the "keeping up with the Joneses" game. Your pay increases are better suited to be dumped into entire stock market index funds (VTSAX for example) and left alone. You might just end up in your 40's as financially independent or at least be looking at not needing employment by your 50's.
Occasional upgrades are fine and necessary sometimes but try to outright purchase them, especially cars - start small with what you can fully purchase and save until you can fully purchase the next one.
When you consider buying a house realize you likely need to own that home for 7 years before you reach a break-even point (first years are lot of interest payments). Home ownership has many additional costs people neglect to think through when buying - all the mechanical systems are yours to maintain, the appliances, the upkeep like lawn, paint, pests, HOA dues, property taxes, etc. At least in the last 6-7 years the amount of mortgage interest + taxes hasn't broken the US Standard Deduction for my household so the advantage of lowering your federal income taxes may not be there either.

hackernoteng · Answer

Max out your retirement accounts into index funds. Play a team sport. Take care of your health and fitness. Build some muscle. Dont waste time living or workin in a place you dont want to be.

AnimalMuppet · Answer

Your kids need and deserve more of your time and thought than you are giving them.

manikagg101 · Answer

I like how Mathew McConaughey spoke about chasing your best version (your older version) in his Oscar winning speech.Check out his speech here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wD2cVhC-63I

bhu1st · Answer

Keep a habit of journaling important stuffs that happened in your day to day life. When you want to look back at how you ended up where you are your journals give you a great glimpse.Also it improves your writing, attention span and helps you free your mind.

markus_zhang · Answer

Transfer to a CS/CE program and exercise once per day.And buy Bitcoin when it's cheap.

What would you tell yourself in your 40s?

If you could give advice to your younger self in your 40s what would it be?

Max out your retirement accounts into index funds. Play a team sport. Take care of your health and fitness. Build some muscle. Dont waste time living or workin in a place you dont want to be.

Your kids need and deserve more of your time and thought than you are giving them.

I like how Mathew McConaughey spoke about chasing your best version (your older version) in his Oscar winning speech.
Check out his speech here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wD2cVhC-63I

Keep a habit of journaling important stuffs that happened in your day to day life. When you want to look back at how you ended up where you are your journals give you a great glimpse.
Also it improves your writing, attention span and helps you free your mind.

Transfer to a CS/CE program and exercise once per day.
And buy Bitcoin when it's cheap.