You are right, Dean! Thanks a lot for your comment and for reading. I think this is a very valuable perspective that folks should consider. In hindsight, I would have had more money if I invested it into the stock market rather than just saving it. That’s probably one more mistake I’ve made as an early professional, haha! I’m quite risk averse when it comes to money and investing, so this played into it, but also I was told that if there is a chance I may need this money in the next 5-10 years, the gains from investing are less likely to outperform the highest interest instant accounts (but they still can, just less likely due to the possibility of a crash when you may need to withdraw the money). Since I was unsure how long I could live with my parents, I concluded investing wasn’t for me yet. Say, if I wanted to buy a house in 2022, I would have found it gutting to have lost some money. But had I invested say, back in 2018, and kept investing until 2024, I would have had more money (which we know now but I didn’t before). I still feel like with what I knew then I was a good decision, because I slept a lot better than I think I would have if my money was in stocks. On balance, you’re right that stock market wins over, especially if you are more likely not to need this money in the next 5-10 years and can emotionally withstands the ups and downs which I couldn’t when I was younger. Related to this topic, I found this like for like video of buying a home vs renting quite helpful (it also includes investing as part of the comparison).
You are right, Dean! Thanks a lot for your comment and for reading. I think this is a very valuable perspective that folks should consider.
In hindsight, I would have had more money if I invested it into the stock market rather than just saving it. That’s probably one more mistake I’ve made as an early professional, haha!
I’m quite risk averse when it comes to money and investing, so this played into it, but also I was told that if there is a chance I may need this money in the next 5-10 years, the gains from investing are less likely to outperform the highest interest instant accounts (but they still can, just less likely due to the possibility of a crash when you may need to withdraw the money). Since I was unsure how long I could live with my parents, I concluded investing wasn’t for me yet.
Say, if I wanted to buy a house in 2022, I would have found it gutting to have lost some money. But had I invested say, back in 2018, and kept investing until 2024, I would have had more money (which we know now but I didn’t before). I still feel like with what I knew then I was a good decision, because I slept a lot better than I think I would have if my money was in stocks.
On balance, you’re right that stock market wins over, especially if you are more likely not to need this money in the next 5-10 years and can emotionally withstands the ups and downs which I couldn’t when I was younger.
Related to this topic, I found this like for like video of buying a home vs renting quite helpful (it also includes investing as part of the comparison).
Thanks for sharing! Also, I started using the Waking Up meditation app again after reading your post. Great resource.