are you investing or cosplaying financial stability?

Happy Sunday financial hotties!

This week, we’re getting personal about my investing regrets. How I did everything right, and followed every Financial Hot Girl philosophy ahead of time… but still got it completely wrong.

Before I start, here’s a quick refresher on my financial timeline, back to when I read my first personal finance book:

Age 24: Drowning in debt and living for payday

Age 25: Became debt-free and started investing £50/month

Age 26: Salary jump to £36k; investing £500/month into an index fund

Age 27: Same routine, consistent investor mindset

Age 28: Quit corporate, paused investing, lived off savings

Age 29/30: Paying myself through my business, rebuilding savings for travel

Now that you’re caught up (albeit briefly), here’s why I feel regret when I think about what I should’ve done at age 24.

I don’t regret investing. I regret investing as if I was going to stay in corporate forever. Because investing requires committing to a lifestyle, and I was committing to the wrong one.

Disclaimer: this issue is absolutely not a fear-mongering post about investing. Investing is a powerful, smart way to grow your wealth, give you options, and ultimately freedom. You’ll understand everything if you read this issue fully, so please do.

𝜗ৎ In this issue:

• The version of me I was investing for

• The illusion of “doing everything right”

• What nobody tells you about long-term investing

• The real cost of not trusting yourself