That’s What They Said

Growing up is hard!  There I said it.  As a young person I was so eager to grow up so that I could make my own decisions.  Now that I’m here, well, I must admit that making all the decisions leaves something to be desired.  I’m not saying I don’t like it, but there are some things I’d rather not have to deal with.  But the hardest thing to accept, I mean the big one that is staring me in the face, is when I say something that I know I’ve heard before.  You know way back there in my past:  From my parents!  In all likelihood, I heard it and let out a big sigh and exaggerated eye roll.  I am becoming my parents there is no doubt about it.

Now I know they are going to find out I said this, being both avid readers of GDI posts… but I’m going to do this anyway.

How many lessons were you taught as a kid but didn’t learn until you became an adult?

What words of wisdom were bestowed on your deaf ears?

Do you find yourself kicking your own butt with words like “if I only started when I heard this the first time”?

Seriously… who knew parents were smart?  No seriously who?

Please let me share some of the wisdom that was shared with me but learned so much later:

Pay Yourself First!

Pay yourself first.  I had no idea what they were talking about.  Who else was I going to pay with part-time earnings?  Of course I was going to pay me first: lunch, movies, shopping sprees…  I had no clue they meant, pay your “future” self!  Imagine if I would have followed the lesson to the “T”:  Put 10% of all earnings into a savings account and never touch it until retirement.  We call this a “Financial Freedom Account” (FFA)!

Tip – Automate a deposit into a savings account that you cannot touch or withdraw from.

Goal – Put 10% of all earnings into an FFA or commit to a dollar amount from every pay.

You Are What You Eat

You are what you eat.  Okay so they didn’t mean this literally, I never did turn into a “Big Mac”.  But I do have to say when I hit “25” all that junk food decided to magically appear as additions to my hips and waist.  Argh!!!  Now technically I know that the food I ate at 15 didn’t wait 10 years to reappear, but this is the age when most of our metabolisms’ decide to slow down.

Tip – Cut down on non-essential sugars by switching from pop and juices to water.

Goal – Limit junk food to one day a week.

Go to Sleep

“Go to sleep”.  Now if I am completely honest with you the comment was more along the lines of “Okay night owl, it is time to go to bed”.  There are loads of studies that showcase the benefits of getting a full night of sleep.  From increased brain function, improved awareness, to leveling of mood swings.

Tip – Maintain a daily sleep schedule even on the weekends.

Goal – Start getting ready for bed 30 minutes earlier.

What words of wisdom did you get but have yet to put into practice?  Let us know by commenting below.