The money advice we needed in our 20s (and still stand by today) / 76

When you’re in your early 20s, it’s easy to feel like you have so much time to figure money out later. Retirement feels impossibly far away, investing feels intimidating, and honestly, a lot of financial advice can feel disconnected from real life when you’re just trying to make rent, navigate your first job, or recover from the chaos of college.The truth is, though, some of the smallest financial habits you build early on can shape your life for decades — not because you need to do everything perfectly, but because small, consistent choices really do add up over time. And while this episode is centered around what we wish we knew in our 20s, almost everything we talk about applies no matter your age or stage of life. It’s never too early or too late to start building habits that make your financial life feel calmer and more intentional.In this conversation, we’re sharing the money advice we genuinely wish someone had told us earlier, from tracking our spending and avoiding lifestyle creep to building credit, learning to invest, and figuring out what actually matters to us.✨ Episode Highlights ✨[02:00] Why tracking your spending is the foundation of intentional money habits[03:30] The personal finance books that helped us finally understand money[05:00] How to spot “money leaks” and spend more intentionally[06:30] Two simple questions to ask before buying something impulsively[09:00] What lifestyle creep actually looks like in your 20s[13:00] Why learning to cook is one of the best money-saving skills you can build[15:00] The financial advantage of cheap housing situations early in adulthood[17:00] How to prioritize experiences and travel without overspending[19:30] Building credit responsibly and why starting early matters[23:00] Emergency funds, future goals, and using extra money intentionally[27:00] Why investing early matters more than investing perfectly[32:30] Talking about money with friends, asking for help, and taking imperfect action✨ Resources ✨Our 2 favorite personal finance/investing books: I Will Teach You to Be Rich by Ramit Sethi and The Simple Path to Wealth by JL CollinsBudgeting tool: YNAB (You Need a Budget)Finance Girlies’ Investing Before You’re Ready workshopFinance Girlies episode on bank accounts: Q&A: Choosing the right bank accounts / 3Finance Girlies episode on travel: Points & miles 101 with Ross Alcorn: Turn your credit card rewards into free travel / 52Finance Girlies episode with Arden Missal: She didn’t want to shrink her lifestyle — so she paid off $150K in debt, fast / 74Support the show📩 Get The Finance Girlies newsletter: https://www.thefinancegirlies.com/newsletter💻Visit The Finance Girlies website: https://www.thefinancegirlies.com/💖Email us your money questions: [email protected]📸Follow us on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/thefinancegirlies/