Ask HN: What do you wish you knew in your early twenties? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: What do you wish you knew in your early twenties?

#11

Post by eswat » Sun, Feb 22, 2015, 11:49 PM UTC

coralreef wrote: post #8

crikli wrote: post #7

Debt is for suckers. Pay cash.

Could you expand on that? I like to pay with credit card, get air miles.

I also try to pay in plastic as often as possible for travel and cashback rewards. Assuming you pay your card on-time, we’re the minority. For most a credit card is just a debt machine and if those same people had to pay with tangible cash they’d probably think twice about spending more than they earn (which I assume is the sentiment of the OP).

Re: Ask HN: What do you wish you knew in your early twenties?

#12

Post by digisign » Sun, Feb 22, 2015, 11:58 PM UTC

crikli wrote: post #7

Debt is for suckers. Pay cash.

I've always lived this way and vastly prefer it, but it was a big problem this year when I applied to rent a new apartment.

No credit history? denied. Apparently the cars I've purchased have expired from my credit report, I didnt know that happens after 10 years, but it does. Shameful, to push people to credit... any ideas how to solve this issue?

Re: Ask HN: What do you wish you knew in your early twenties?

#13

Post by eswat » Mon, Feb 23, 2015, 12:01 AM UTC

Don’t back out of anything – shy of walking into a dark alley in downtown Winnipeg at night – just because it scares you. Your ability to take risks and just shrug off the bad results will diminish with age.

So use this time to do the stupid shit that scares or embarrasses you. You’ll think you can keep that youthful, playful and joking spirit you now have throughout life because that’s what you believe you are. But society will shape you into its dull, conforming image and it’s hard not to let it happen. So fight to mitigate it now by experience as much as you can.

Re: Ask HN: What do you wish you knew in your early twenties?

#14

Post by ADanFromCanada » Mon, Feb 23, 2015, 2:48 AM UTC

lscore720 wrote: post #10

In advance, sorry for the long-winded response. My answer: once you have enough money to allow you freedom in life (different definition for everyone), you're set and do not need a penny more - with the exception of funds for charitable purposes. I earned a business degree from a top program. I don't mention this to boast, but rather because this was an unknowing introduction to the greed hammered into young college…

This is a great story. A treasure trove of experience and great advice in 3 short paragraphs.

Re: Ask HN: What do you wish you knew in your early twenties?

#15

Post by NeutronBoy » Mon, Feb 23, 2015, 3:12 AM UTC

crikli wrote: post #7

Debt is for suckers. Pay cash.

Cash and credit have nothing to do with debt. Buying shit you can't afford has everything to do with debt.

Re: Ask HN: What do you wish you knew in your early twenties?

#16

Post by dogstraightup » Mon, Feb 23, 2015, 5:21 AM UTC

lscore720 wrote: post #10

In advance, sorry for the long-winded response. My answer: once you have enough money to allow you freedom in life (different definition for everyone), you're set and do not need a penny more - with the exception of funds for charitable purposes. I earned a business degree from a top program. I don't mention this to boast, but rather because this was an unknowing introduction to the greed hammered into young college…

What point is that today? Just curious as I am also a technology recruiter in my early/mid 20's. Shoot me a message if you can!

Re: Ask HN: What do you wish you knew in your early twenties?

#17

Post by dasq » Mon, Feb 23, 2015, 5:29 AM UTC

MichaelCrawford wrote: post #5

I wish I had known what C's assert() macro was. I spent a lot of useless time in debuggers. While assert() won't replace a debugger, using assertions reduces the need for tedious debugging.

I love how everyone is all about life lessons, and here you are talking about asserts :)

Re: Ask HN: What do you wish you knew in your early twenties?

#18

Post by ljsocal » Mon, Feb 23, 2015, 7:43 AM UTC

While it is true that you cannot "connect the dots" looking forward, you can improve your future prospects by making sure that the "dot" you're on today is a meaningful one.

Re: Ask HN: What do you wish you knew in your early twenties?

#19

Post by lscore720 » Mon, Feb 23, 2015, 9:16 PM UTC

dogstraightup wrote: post #16

lscore720 wrote: post #10

In advance, sorry for the long-winded response. My answer: once you have enough money to allow you freedom in life (different definition for everyone), you're set and do not need a penny more - with the exception of funds for charitable purposes. I earned a business degree from a top program. I don't mention this to boast, but rather because this was an unknowing introduction to the greed hammered into young college…

What point is that today? Just curious as I am also a technology recruiter in my early/mid 20's. Shoot me a message if you can!

Howdy. Just the point I started with in my reply: once you have enough money to allow you freedom in life (different definition for everyone), you're set and do not need a penny more - with the exception of funds for charitable purposes. That'll be different numbers for different people.