Jdub

Jdub,
You just turned 25 and think you’re pretty smart with your college degree. Well you are pretty smart but you definitely have no clue when it comes to the real world!
Anyhow … here’s some advice…
Credit cards. They require restraint. It’s good to have them but don’t let your balances go over $5k and don’t carry more than 2 credit cards at a time. There’s no need for more than that and anything beyond $10k in credit card debt is just too much to carry.
Marriage. Recently divorced, so this may be slanted. I will say if your closest friends and family tell you they don’t like the person you are with – they are right – there’s something wrong and don’t just scoff this off and think you know better. I know that your children shouldn’t come before your spouse; and your job shouldn’t come before your spouse or your children. Your marriage should be protected and held sacred if you should choose to go down this path – you’re making a commitment and you shouldn’t take this lightly. If you suspect something is wrong in your marriage, it is far worse than you want to believe and if you truly love your spouse you have to take major life changing actions to fix it. It won’t fix itself and a little attention the marriage won’t cut it either – change your lifestyle and do something completely different to make it better.
Kids. They are blessings but you must know that they will forever change your life. Nobody tells you the really negative parts of having kids … Every extra bit of free time – your kids will take. Your marriage will suffer a bit from having kids – especially in the early years because it is such an adjustment for the newly married couple. Sex is less, money is less and stress is higher. Your body changes and it never goes back to what it was. Your mornings will never be peaceful. You worry over their health and happiness constantly. You feel guilty because you secretly love the days when the kids are with their grandparents or at a friend’s house. There’s a lot to having kids that just plain out sucks. And then you think about the type of world you’re bringing them into … you love your children more than anyone else and would die for them but you also know that if you were to do it all over again, you’d probably be a stay at home – so in choosing whether or not to have kids really think this one through.
Travel. Travel as much as you can and experience all the world has to offer before settling down. Don’t pass up opportunities to travel – don’t get stuck in vacation ruts either. Try to go somewhere you’ve never been at least once a year.
Parents. Love your parents, give them respect and never let them feel neglected. They are the two people in this world who love you without fail and only want for your happiness.
Money. Money sure does make the world go round but don’t ever let money ruin a relationship. Lend money without expectations of getting it back. Don’t do business with family.