What would you tell your past self?

[AbbysMom]

I would tell myself that I don't need all of "the stuff". My cellar and above my garage and all of the closets are full of "stuff" that I really don't need. I'm trying to slowly go through it all now and get rid of it. I'd also tell myself to not spend so much money on eating out.

 

[DownTheLane]

I've been really stingy for as long as I can remember, so there wouldn't be a whole lot. I think mostly some clothing articles that I barely ended up wearing. I still feel a bit stupid for spending so much on them while barely having worn them. I'd also try to convince myself to go thrift shopping earlier in life!

 

[strider rose]

i would tell myself not to spend money on a marriage license cause my last two husbands were jerks to me

 

[Jem]

I've always been pretty frugal/cheap...so not much, really. I have a few articles of clothing that I have only worn a couple of times that I could have done without.
The biggest thing would be that I wish I had bought a different house. The one I was drawn to was actually cheaper than the one we purchased, but my husband really wanted the one we are in now...I caved because "his house" seemed more important to him than "my house" was to me. I still wonder sometimes if we would have been better off in the house I wanted....and I can't help it because I drive by it everyday...

 

[susanm9006]

Those heavy and expensive pieces of exercise equipment that required large amounts of maintenance and that I hated to use. And probably all those expensive coffees that I used to have every morning on my way to work.

 

[game misconduct]

proably not much since i am kinda on the hard headed side only learn after getting knocked off my feet

 

[muffy]

I would tell myself not to loan money to friends and co-workers. I loaned considerate amounts of money to several people and only one of them bothered to pay me back.

 

[Lari]

Ugh, probably would have told myself not to buy my current car. I needed a car, but I should have bought a different one. This one has had so many problems, especially in this past year, that I wish I'd gone with a different one. It hasn't been worth it.

 

[MonaLyssa33]

College. I wish I dropped out a lot earlier than I had and I wish I had taken a few college classes while in high school because they would have been free.

 

[Whenallhellbreakslose]

I spent too much on recreation(Eating out, going to the movies, etc). There were times where I cracked down and saved alot, but I spent much less time doing that than my wasteful spending. I wish I socked more money in my 401K and my savings. Too many emergencies came up where I could have used stashed away funds, rather than putting things on my credit card. Thankfully, I paid everything off that I put on them.

 

[neely]

I was brought up to be practical so for the most part I don't live beyond my means. But if I had to think of something it would be shoes. I have trouble finding shoes in my size or that are comfortable. All the years of running took their toll on my feet so when I see something I like I buy the same shoe in two different colors.

 

[Mia6]

Skip your bad boy phase

 

[Maria Bayote]

I have always been a bit stingy, but still I would probably tell myself not to buy all those bags....

and clothes.

 

[Jcatbird]

I have always been careful with money but there is one thing that I thought of that kind of made me laugh and if I could tell my past self, I would..... don’t buy an 8track tape player and tapes! Almost an instant obsolete!

 

[Winchester]

Don’t do it. You’re only 16. Don’t do it. Money or anything else.

 

[gilmargl]

I have problems finding comfortable shoes. (I know, the real problem is my feet and not the shoes).
So, "Don't spend so much money on expensive shoes unless you're absolutely certain they are not going to hurt you!"
Cheap, or even cheaper shoes, are easier to throw out if they start to hurt your feet. But expensive ones are just taking up space in the cupboard - perhaps they'll be more comfortable one day!

 

[fionasmom]

1. Clothes. I put in another thread awhile back that if I like something I buy it in all the colors because I read that Jackie Kennedy did that and I am so much like Jackie.

2.Sorry to say this one, but some 11th hour Hail Mary vet care that I have allowed, especially when the results of whatever test was being run were not going to be acted upon in the first place. This includes one experimental treatment for one of my GSDs.

 

[MoochNNoodles]

Please don’t ask my husband this...

I’m thinking any sort of multi-level marketing “business.” DH and I paid off approximately 25k in credit card debt thanks to one “learning experience”. We basically put all of my salary towards that and saving for a house for several years. So just say NO to debt. Avoid all possible debt that you can.