From earning our first paycheque and buying our first car to moving out of our parents’ home, adjusting to adult life can be both invigorating and overwhelming. If we get it right, our early adulthood doesn’t have to become just a series of cautionary tales we tell our children. Here are five well-known ‘follies of youth’ to try to steer clear of.

1. Delaying saving for retirement

If you’ve ever thought that saving for retirement was tomorrow’s concern, think about this: As young people, the future belongs to us, but only if we prepare for it. The path to financial independence is paved with planning, budgeting, saving and investing.

When it comes to investing, the earlier you start, the more time your money has to grow. If you leave your money invested over time the magical power of compound interest will grow your money for you. Over time, you will earn interest on the interest you have already earned in a virtuous cycle of growth.

Unfortunately, many young people are already missing out on the magic of compound interest as shown over and over by the 10X Investments annual Retirement Reality Report. When asked why they don’t save for retirement, a large number of people under 35 say saving for retirement was not a priority for them at this stage of their lives.

You alone are responsible for the type of retirement you will have so why not make the necessary preparations now to ensure your ‘golden years’ are actually golden. Use a free tool such as the retirement saving calculator on 10X Investments’ site, to set out some goals and start the process earlier rather than later.

2. Not setting up an emergency fund

No one can predict what life will throw your way but one lesson we can all admit to learning, time and time again, is that preparation is key to success. To help you prepare for life’s curveballs, be it retrenchment or a flat car battery, it is best to have an emergency fund.

Don’t think of it as an investment, but rather as a savings plan. Investing builds wealth and saving will secure it. The general rule of thumb is to have at least three to six months of your take-home pay saved in a low-fee money market fund or income fund for rainy days.

Having a safety net of cash means you do not need to access your long-term saving funds and potentially derail your future goals. Plus, an emergency fund will give you better peace of mind and will also teach you the discipline of putting money away consistently. 

3. Letting your money control you

Like most other journeys in life, the path to financial freedom starts with the basics: budgeting. Everyone can benefit from a budget – not just those who are trying to save money. A proper budget enables you to understand your current situation in the context of where you want to be and, importantly, it helps you create a pathway from here to there.

Think of a budget as a roadmap. It is essentially you telling your money where to go and what to do instead of allowing your money to control you. Start by listing your incomings, your outgoings and your objectives. Then create a plan around your spending and refine this into a strategy that empowers you to reach your goals.

4. Not educating and informing yourself

The saying “knowledge is power” is especially relevant when it comes to personal finances. Even if your parents have taught you the basics of handling your finances responsibly there is always more to learn and so many resources at our fingertips.

Learn about saving and investing and inform yourself about taxes and fees. Remaining ignorant about key financial levers will make you vulnerable to being exploited or making poor decisions.

Visit the 10X Resources Hub for free E-books and other educational resources.

5. Trying to keep up with the Joneses

Us young people too easily fall prey to peer pressure, which sees us waste our money on flashy cars, meals in fancy restaurants and other nice-to-haves. Usually this is done in the hope it will make us look successful to our peers. But, seriously guys, nothing looks as successful as success itself, and burning all your money on flash purchases is not going to help you get there.

The most dangerous part of ‘trying to keep up with the Joneses’ is that you may start relying on your credit cards, store accounts and general loans. The next thing you know, you’re in a debt spiral that can take a long time to recover from. Try to live within your means. It’s the best gift you could ever give yourself.

One of the greatest advantages we have as young people is that we have time on our side. We might think that living our best lives comes at the expense of making smarter decisions, but the truth is we can do both. If we manage our money more wisely, we won’t have to end up living in regret later on in life.  DM/BM

Khwezi Jackson, Investment Consultant at 10X Investments

Disclaimer: 

The content herein is provided as general information. It is not intended as nor does it constitute financial, tax, legal, investment, or other advice.