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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.

debbie1957uk Wed 06-Feb-19 03:08:01

Get some qualifications so you can get a good job,save for a rainy day and do lots of travelling

kateloader Wed 06-Feb-19 04:36:20

Don’t be scared to say No and remember to be honest to yourself and others

MimiJoy Wed 06-Feb-19 04:46:05

Save more and start my pension early. Learn to drive as soon as possible (I still don't drive in my 50's) and concentrate more at school and college to gain better grades.

BradfordLass72 Wed 06-Feb-19 05:16:14

Absolutely nothing because every mistake has taught me a valuable method of survival and enabled me to help others as well.

carol2712 Wed 06-Feb-19 05:33:26

Stop trying to please everyone, it’s your life so live it for you, don’t be afraid to make mistakes, and if you do learn from them.

emmal01 Wed 06-Feb-19 06:23:03

Believe & love yourself!

Ara Wed 06-Feb-19 06:32:03

be happy in your own skin, embrace all your amazing qualities, accept your flaws and be yourself.

alabaster Wed 06-Feb-19 06:34:25

Relax more; worry less!

toffee11 Wed 06-Feb-19 06:41:49

Have patience - things will happen (eventually!).

compy99 Wed 06-Feb-19 06:50:42

To not waste so much time worrying over the little things that you have no control over.

glenka Wed 06-Feb-19 07:02:11

I would say to never give up even when things are really tough because you can get through the set backs but it will just take time.

hdh74 Wed 06-Feb-19 07:05:31

Live for today, plan for tomorrow, and let go of yesterday.

flossy1973 Wed 06-Feb-19 07:12:13

Stop worrying about petty things!!
Travel more!
Pursue a different career as nursing is hard work!

libra10 Wed 06-Feb-19 07:12:54

Although neither my husband nor myself have been highly paid during our working life, we have always saved what money we could.

My OH always contributed to a pension, but I never did, taking time out to raise children, then a series of part-time jobs. When I eventually did a full-time job it seemed too late to contribute to a pension - something I now regret!

Being cautious investors, we have preferred the safety of cash savings and ISA accounts rather than investing in equities. Even though interest rates are depressingly low! We had shares in Halifax and Bradford & Bingley Building Society, and when they crashed years ago, we lost lots of money, making us more cautious than ever!

My advice would be to stay longer in education when young, I took my A Levels in my forties. If I had been motivated earlier, I would have had gained qualificiations leading to better jobs.

Always save what you can, enough to see you through any emergencies, and hopefully a nest egg.

Don't buy clothes that you are going to wear when slimmer! I have a wardrobe of clothes which I still can't get into!

vonniebab2 Wed 06-Feb-19 07:13:32

Definitely not pay married women stamp also start my pension plan a lot earlier!

lornajk Wed 06-Feb-19 07:42:13

To be more confident. And listen to your mother, she was usually right!

maryandbuzz1 Wed 06-Feb-19 08:22:42

I wish I had entered the property market earlier. I had the opportunity to buy whilst I worked abroad and rent out the house but didn’t get round to it.

Helsbells68 Wed 06-Feb-19 08:34:38

Do not have children, with all the genetic conditions we both have the children will suffer

southernsun Wed 06-Feb-19 08:36:37

Try not to worry about things so much, most of the times things work out just fine.

falconer Wed 06-Feb-19 08:39:17

Don't worry so much about what people will think and enjoy life!

Harris27 Wed 06-Feb-19 08:42:05

To be mire confident and to believe in myself not rely on other people's opinions of me. And start a pension younger I've got to work till 66 now instead of enjoying myself or having the option to do so at 60!!!!

DancesWithOtters Wed 06-Feb-19 08:44:56

Stay away from men until you are at least 25.

Don't start smoking.

Choose a different degree.

Don't get those credit cards.

Calm the bloody hell down.

Batfink78 Wed 06-Feb-19 08:53:28

Save money whenever possible and get on the property ladder early as you can.

hiddenmichelle Wed 06-Feb-19 08:56:57

to follow your own dreams - do what you want, not what others want. You do not have to conform to what the majority think is the right thing. Have no regrets!

CompIron Wed 06-Feb-19 08:58:54

Work hard and enjoy life to the fullest