Dear Future Me,
over the past few months from February to March 2025, I comprehensively learned how to make my money work for me as a young student. After completion of this project, I’ve gained a RICH understanding on how I can INVEST RIGHT NOW.
Before this, I didn’t think of nor understand basic financial aspects like realistic financial costs as a young adult, interest, APR, incentives (cash back, travel rewards, etc.) budgeting, investing, or taxes. But now, I realize how powerful money really is — not just in how it works, but in how I can make it work for me. I learned the importance of tracking spending closely and carefully, saving EARLY, and building financial discipline — even when it’s hard.
What surprised me most? How easily people can fall into debt in the blink of an eye, and how long it takes to recover. That really resonated with me (for more reasons than one).
So, future me, I hope you’re making smart financial choices: budgeting, saving, maybe even investing. Whether you’re living alone, in university, or chasing something big, apply this knowledge to your benefit.
Remember that stock simulator competition Mr. May launched? At first, I had no clue where to start. There were countless suggested videos on “How to win in the stock market” or “How to make the best investments for you”— I ended up watching a few here and there, all while merging that advice with the few investment skills and insights Dad has shared with me in the past.
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Somehow, my stocks started to pick up. I climbed to second place, holding that position for about half the game then overtook the leader after they made a few bad investments, and for a while, I held on to first place. But toward the end, I grew sloppy an un-updated with the business media and managing my stocks, and it cost me. That inconsistency knocked me out of the top spot.
The craziest part? The most successful players in the long run were the ones who did nothing with their $10,000 starting point balance! It truly blew my mind. I know that’s not how the real world of investing works, but it taught me something huge: there’s still so much for me to learn.
While interactively participating in this game/competition, we had to form two person groups focused around presenting an overview on various categories of investing. Since Alex K and I thought it would be quite applicable to us, we chose Youth Investing.
Retrospectively, we collectively created three core messages we focused around during our presentation that we would NEVER FORGET.
- Investing Early is META. We guided this message through many slides covering all the different methods that are crucial to acquire if you happen to be a young investor (check out the presentation link if you haven’t already!).
- The Rules. As a youth, I know that our individual budgets may be tight, but if you play your cards right, you can attain everything you need, through following the 50,30,20 (interchangeable depending on your financial situation), start off with small investments- get a feel of your market, and NEVER EVER invest with your emotions. Trust me, you will have to pay for it later (literally).
- Marketing Mind Games (psychological aspect)- analyzing your market is crucial for your success. You must learn how to read and interpret financial statements (maybe income statements? Financial sheets?). These are indicators of a business’s financial stability, profabtiility, and future aspirations.
Never let arrogance, fear, or greed deceive you (you know your true budget) influence your decision making. This all derives from instant gratification (impulsiveness)- have discipline.
Some questions I have right now that future me must answer by 18:
- Are you planning on living at home or near campus once enrolled in university?
- Transit or car?
- How can you stay updated in the stocks world every day?
- In what ways can you grow a successful online business?
Self-Note: never forget: wealth isn’t about showing off — it’s about freedom, travel, and security. So keep grinding, have your eyes on the prize, and always think long-term.
https://bats-carry-t3b.craft.me/hK30jT3MbvQ55Q
Sincerely,
Lucas (2025)