This piece is part of my 2016–2026 archive migration. Some original formatting, content, and external links may be missing, changed, or not be optimized.
No regrets, just lessons
10 Things I’d Do Better With Money
1) Build out an emergency fund
I officially started my emergency fund around high school once I learned the concept of it. But before I read Dave Ramsey, I had a minimum balance I wanted to keep. I remember when that minimum number was $100. No matter what happened, I would never spend anything that landed me under $100, which was a perfect exercise to practice self-discipline.
2) Invest consistently.
I started investing at the age of 14, but I didn’t consistently invest until I reached my 20s. It was at that point that I started to notice a shift in my net worth because I was consistently investing money every week.
3) Take more financial risk earlier (i.e., cryptocurrency).
I was introduced to cryptocurrency in 2018, but I didn’t start investing in cryptocurrency until 2021. I have no regrets, but I still should have embraced the concepts of digital currency and blockchain technology even though it was uncomfortable and new information.
4) Avoid buying pointless items.
I’ve never been a huge shopper, but there are still many purchases I made over the years that could’ve been avoided completely. The more you buy, the less you keep. The more you buy, the heavier your life becomes due to the consequences of accumulating materialistic items. So many things I have ended up giving away because I didn’t use it, need it, or genuinely want it.
5) Don’t stay long at toxic jobs that pay well.
I’ve had many jobs that paid well, but few have actually benefited me mentally, emotionally, and physically. No amount of money is worth the sacrifice of your health and mental peace. There are too many companies and traditional job opportunities that will pay you well and treat you well. Find the balance because it’s definitely out there.
6) Read more books on investing and trading.
I’ve always invested, but learning all of the terminology and strategies is still something I have not mastered. The same for trading, which is a lucrative realm of the investment world.
Getting comfortable with the uncomfortable is something that can take you a long way.
7) Attend more real estate and investment seminars.
Knowledge is potential power; when utilized, it is limitless power. I started diving into real estate much later in life through books, but attending investment and real estate seminars early on could have taken me a few steps further than where I am today.
Seminars don’t have to be expensive or in person; they can be free and online – as long as they’re adding value.
8) Surround myself with financially sound people.
Most people hang around broke people because most people are broke. But what if most of your friends weren’t broke? Your life would most likely benefit.
When you know better, you do better. When your friends are better, you do better. You are the average of the people you hang around.
9) Don’t take a break from entrepreneurial ventures.
I stopped publishing for about ten years. I was still running a music teaching business, but my biggest passion, writing, I put on hold. Though I still wrote, I wasn’t publishing consistently.
Never put your passions on hold. Keep working on them.
10) Save more of my income.
The most important one is saving. We could always save more even when we have more. There is usually no such thing as saving too much money, as long as you are enjoying life in the process.
This content is for informational purposes only — not professional advice. Consult a qualified professional before making any major decisions.