Young and making substantial money...doesn’t feel real?
Not a shite post. Seriously, I’m 23 and making nearly $150k a year for manipulating excel templates and copying PowerPoint formats. I also still live like how I did in college, you could tell by me still using the beer glasses I won from a raffle on St Pattys Day, in my apartment, which are literally the only nice drink ware I own. I wear cheap clothes but I do have a pretty nice AP watch. Besides that, I just am having a hard time coming to grasp this reality. I don’t know. I’m sure some of you guys have experienced this or can relate.
Word of advice. Keep it like that, keep focusing on work and getting smarter in what you are passionate about in your down time. Put all the money you aren’t spending into the market. That’s how you become a millionaire by 30.
I am older than you and I still don't own any furniture, any glassware, cutlery, art, nice lights, wallpaper, curtains, or anything else. there was a plan to get all of these things at some point but didn't sound like fun, so didn't do it.
While my living expenses have gone up (mainly due to hobbies), I still don't vacation and have no "real home". The only item I actually bought was a my very first monitor I got for Prime Day this year. Never had one before. My laptop is like 13 years old. phone is a 50 $ Android.
Money on a trading account is just a number, and it doesn't "feel real" unless you buy a lifestyle with it. Buy the things you need, not the things you want.
Continue living beneath your means. It's a GREAT habit and will provide you financial independence later in life (which provides you all sorts of independence). That doesn't mean don't buy things. Certainly buy things you need and get good quality so they last. OCCASIONALLY buy some things you want as I think it's important to reward yourself from time to time. Helps maintain your focus, reminds you why you do things, and provides some enjoyment. You have to have enjoyment to sustain anything long term (jobs, relationships, hobbies, etc.)
Just avoid the temptation to frequently live in the moment financially. When I was much younger, I had lots of wants without the means to afford them. Nice watches, cars, etc. Normal stuff. I used to look at the watches in the window and tell myself I'll get that when I do X. Funny thing, when I hit X I know longer cared about the watch or car. That allowed me to save and invest which gives you the freedom to pick and choose important things later (like jobs, houses, vacations, essentially anything). Gave me the freedom to start my own business knowing I had some cushion.
I think there’s also a joy in window shopping, that isn’t present when you have to actually shell out cash to purchase the item.
Feel sort of like crap reading this because that was my exact mindset when I started. Fast forward 1 year and I moved in with my GF and I'm spending like crazy.
Need to go back to my roots
girls man
Tru dis. Not sure why someone gave monkey shit. There's a family guy scene, i think, where an alternate scenario is briefly visualized of a well-dressed Peter and Brian sitting around reading the paper in a vast mansion, just the two of them, at a somewhat older age having made tons of money but having clearly sacrificed family and friends to get there. At one point Peter says, "Welp, I think I'm going to go microwave a canteloupe and have sex with it."
I'm happily married, but it comes at a cost and there are times where I'd like to be that guy who's rich beyond belief fucking a microwaved canteloupe, alone, in his beautiful mansion.
Holy shit this is relatable. I’m single now and hardly spend any money, but when I had a girlfriend last year it felt half my paycheck went to overpriced brunches, dinners and drinks at pretentious restaurants. And the irony is that I made a lot more money than her, but she was the one who always wanted to go out.
That’s not irony bro, that’s called being taken advantage of.
I had a similar feeling starting my career, albeit I was making much less money than you. I think most people feel like this when they start out. If I could things over again, this is what I would try to focus on:
These are just the things I wish I had done a better job of doing, hope they're helpful
Congratulations, but I know many 23 year olds who are already making more money than you are and are having a lot more fun than doing PowerPoint and Excel all day long.
Lol please, other than maybe big tech or big name social media people, who are these "many 23 year olds" making more money while having fun? 150k at 23 must be a high 90s percentile salary for that age.
I know this girl who started a local delivery business and she is making 300,000 per year. I also know several people who are power sellers on eBay.
I also know my ex who started an OnlyFans