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What advice would you give to your younger self? Share with Legal & General - NOW CLOSED

(624 Posts)
EllieGransnet (GNHQ) Mon 04-Feb-19 14:42:13

We’ve all been asked this question at some point. Our answers can vary from ‘I wish I’d taken more risks’ or ‘I would have stopped caring about what people think’, to ‘I wish I’d had more fun’ or ‘I wish I’d travelled the world more’. But if you really think about it, what practical advice would you have really benefited from when you were younger? What would you have told your younger self? What would you have done differently? A recent survey carried out across Mumsnet and Gransnet revealed that some Gransnet users consciously put off financial decisions. Is going further with your finances something you might have given more consideration to, with the benefit of hindsight? Whatever advice you’d like to give to your younger self, Legal & General would love to know.

Here’s what Legal & General have to say: “On our savings journey, a nudge in the right direction can make the world of difference when it comes to our financial futures. It’s starting off early, saving little and often over a longer period, that can really pay off*. Although it’s never too late to start saving, what tips and guidance would have motivated you to do more with your money and just get started?”

Would you have taken more risks when you were younger? Is there any information you wish you would have known back then, such as how to save into your pension, how to invest your money or even how to save your money from an earlier age? Would you like to tell your younger self to be more confident in the decisions you make? Or perhaps you wish you’d spent more time with friends and family?

Whatever the advice you would like to give to your younger self, post them on the thread below and everyone who does will be entered into a prize draw where one GNer will win a £300 voucher of their choice (from a list).*

Thanks and good luck with the prize draw
GNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs Apply

*Open 4/02/19 to 25/02/19. To enter please post on the thread below. One entry per person. One prize to be won: £300 voucher of winner’s choice (from a list). Winner chosen by random draw performed by computer process.

*The value of your investments can fall as well as rise and any income from them is not guaranteed. Legal & General Unit Trust Managers Limited.

sweir1 Thu 07-Feb-19 19:58:37

Don't get a tattoo on a hen night

Flowerpower22 Thu 07-Feb-19 20:04:26

Freckles are gorgeous - you do not need to use lemon juice to make them go away!

annodomini Thu 07-Feb-19 20:06:00

Take every opportunity to learn. Never give up.

Sofa Thu 07-Feb-19 20:12:03

Enjoy and appreciate every day as life zooms by so quickly, especially when the children were young.

elizab Thu 07-Feb-19 20:22:36

Start saving as soon as you can!

katiecharlieb Thu 07-Feb-19 21:15:59

Don't worry about 'fear of missing out' and focus on what you want to spend your time doing and what you want to achieve!

EmNix Thu 07-Feb-19 21:53:48

Dont worry, just have a go! Pick the job you want to do not one you were expected to do

Pumpkin2 Thu 07-Feb-19 22:29:58

I'd tell my younger self to listen to your parents - they tall a lot of sense.

Granny23 Thu 07-Feb-19 23:09:54

Don't put all your spare money into your husband's Private Pension, especially if he is somewhat older than you. If he dies before reaching pension age you will get nothing back and if reaches pension age then dies, leaves you or needs long term care, you will be left living on state pension only.

Thanks to the efforts of us older women, today's young women benefit from maternity leave, job security and (mainly) equal pay. In our young days we did not have these benefits. As a married woman I was excluded from the non-contributory pension scheme and in later employment was also not entitled because I was a 'part-time Woman'. I have often wonder what I was the rest of the time? A WIFE probably.

marie12 Thu 07-Feb-19 23:19:20

Dont date my ex or get health insurance earlier

8mhigh Fri 08-Feb-19 00:42:39

Stop putting things off till a better time - it may well never come.

michael888 Fri 08-Feb-19 01:03:32

I'd tell myself to follow my own path and not my parents!

ktmd Fri 08-Feb-19 06:05:54

Get the work life balance right and don't be afraid to take risks.

Bobbysgirl19 Fri 08-Feb-19 10:08:40

Invest your money where you will see a return. First a small saving account, aim to buy a small property as soon as viable.
Don’t be afraid to make decisions it’s okay to get it wrong sometimes.
Life is too short to procrastinate!
Be kind to yourself and put yourself first sometimes or people will take over.
It’s good to save, but don’t be afraid to spend either. Enjoy your life before illness hits you do it now. What good is it sitting in the bank if you’re not well enough to enjoy it.

dirgni Fri 08-Feb-19 10:13:02

Don’t keep your positive feelings to yourself,be more open and demonstrative, don’t be afraid to tell and show the people near to you that you love them,and do it often!

lmm6 Fri 08-Feb-19 10:35:01

Where, oh where, do I begin?
Don't take grandparents for granted - they can die unexpectedly - Notspaghetti, you are SO right. We should ask them questions. Probably my biggest regret that I didn't.
Don't smoke
Start an early pension plan
Don't sunbathe
Travel as much as you can when you're young because that's when you have the energy
If you want children, have them fairly young
Follow your instincts - you'll normally be right
...........and so on ...............and so on.........

duncanbrown Fri 08-Feb-19 12:30:27

Listen, Think, Talk and live life to the full whilst having respect for others.

Maisiesnan Fri 08-Feb-19 14:12:16

I would advise myself to follow my own path rather than do what others wanted me to. Have confidence in myself and to open a savings account.

jantee33 Fri 08-Feb-19 14:42:35

I'd tell myself to run a mile every day - 10 minutes out and 10 minutes back.

chris8888 Fri 08-Feb-19 14:46:15

Save ten percent of what you earn at least and get a good career before you have your children.

shaddai88 Fri 08-Feb-19 15:43:17

Take extra care on what goes into your your mind as it can lead to bad choices. trash goes in and trash will come out. Fill it with postive promises, you will flourish...

beckyinman Fri 08-Feb-19 17:03:31

Back yourself!

granfromafar Fri 08-Feb-19 18:18:49

Do languages not sciences at A level. Have said that, I probably wouldn't have net my husband (we met as t work), so ignore that advice!

GrannieAnnie123 Fri 08-Feb-19 18:38:08

Advice to my younger self would be to learn more about my finances! I would stand up for myself and should have been a stronger woman!

oliveoyl72 Fri 08-Feb-19 18:49:49

Find a job that you enjoy, even if the pay is less - some things are worth more than money (which also applies to many other aspects in life).