9 Money Principles I’d Tell My 17-Year-Old Self

Money buys you freedom

I I got my first decent-paying job when I was 17. It was a call center and I had to sell mobile phone subscriptions to people. The job wasn’t satisfying, but the money was pretty good for a 17-year-old, especially during the summer when I could work more.

I can’t remember exactly how much I made, but it was something like €2000 a month when I worked six days a week. Living with my parents, I had no expenses, so that was money I could spend or save. And like most people that age, I obviously did the former.

I didn’t know any better. But over the years, I’ve learned a lot about money from simply observing wealthy people. If I could go back and teach myself some financial lessons, I would’ve changed my financial mindset way earlier.

Here’s what I would tell myself.

1. Start investing today — Look, you don’t need a degree in finance, be a family member of Warren Buffett, or a seven-figure inheritance from your grandparents to start investing. It’s not complicated. Just invest in an index fund and profit from capitalism. Let the companies do the work, and own a piece of the action.
2. Money buys you freedom — Think twice before you spend your money because every time you buy something, you’re giving up a bit…