From the moment you took your first breath, the meter started running. Diapers, milk, doctor visits. Then came toys, clothes, education, birthdays, and school trips. Life has always been expensive. The illusion that bills start when you move out or get your first job is one of the most damaging beliefs young people are taught. No—living itself is expensive.
The deeper truth? The costs don’t wait for you to be ready. They grow with time. Rent, relationships, self-care, fitness, freedom, dreams—they all come with price tags. Even love is costly. You want a girlfriend? Dates cost money. You want to get in shape? Gym memberships, healthy food, supplements. You want kids? Buckle up.
But here’s where it gets interesting: most young people try to compensate for future expenses by shrinking themselves. They think, "I shouldn’t go after that goal yet," or "I need to wait until I’ve saved more." So they start minimizing. They stay small. They hold back on dreams. They delay investing in themselves. They think waiting is wise.
But the real strategy? Expand your life. Increase your earning potential. Don't just preserve your resources—grow them. The goal isn’t to spend less, it’s to earn more so you can afford a life worth living. The danger isn’t in risking too early. It’s in waiting too long.
Because while you wait to "be ready," the prices of life go up. Inflation doesn’t pause for your comfort zone. Neither does time. The cost of education, rent, starting a business, or traveling the world—they all increase. By the time you hit the number you set in your head, that number no longer means what it used to. The game has moved on.
There’s a window in your youth—especially if you're still living with your parents or have fewer responsibilities—where risks are the cheapest they’ll ever be. That’s when you can afford to fail. That’s when time can catch you. But most waste that window trying to be “safe.” Safe from failure. Safe from embarrassment. Safe from pressure.
But here's a truth worth remembering: bills don’t wait for you to earn, and neither does life. Playing it safe rarely leads to growth. Calculated risks, even with limited resources, often do. And those early failures? They're cheaper than future regrets.
So don’t live like a man trying to dodge the inevitable. Live like a man preparing to rise above it. Take your shots when you’re light, not when you’re heavy. Build now, even if it costs you. Because it will cost you more later.
And if no one’s ever told you this: The goal is not to shrink into a life you can afford. The goal is to build a life worth paying for.
Start Early, Earn Early
You don’t need to wait until you’re 25 with a degree to start making money. In fact, many of the most flexible and low-risk income opportunities are available even when you're young. The internet made that possible. Freelance online. Offer tutoring. Resell products. Start a YouTube channel. Run a digital service. Cut lawns. Walk dogs. Clean cars. Drive Uber when you're old enough. Sell photos, write, code, assist, edit, design, teach. Learn to monetize your curiosity.
If you already have a job, your hours after work are prime territory. That side hustle might one day replace your main income. Don’t spend your weekends only recovering—spend a few of them building. If you can do 40 hours for someone else, you can find 4 hours for yourself.
Set earning goals. Not just saving goals. Ask: “How do I increase my value?” Whether it’s learning a skill, mastering a craft, or offering a service, your income should reflect your evolution. And it starts when you decide it does—not when the system gives you permission.
For the Grown Men Still Playing Too Safe
You’ve moved out. You’ve got bills. Maybe even a partner. Maybe kids. But some of you are still living like the goal is just to “get by.”
That’s not freedom. That’s survival. And survival burns out. Especially when you're one health scare, one layoff, or one family emergency away from panic mode.
If you’re not actively building something that can pay you when you’re not working, you’re walking on ice. You need passive cash flow. You need emergency plans. You need breathing room.
Because as you get older, the bills don’t stop—they multiply. And not just in dollars, but in emotional cost. What happens when your kid needs something you can't afford? Or when your parents age and need your help? Or when your body gives out from stress and overwork?
Life is already expensive. But not preparing for it? That’s the real luxury you can’t afford.
For Those Who Want Love, Family, and Legacy
Everything noble has a cost. Love costs effort, vulnerability, and yes—money. Real love, the kind that turns into marriage and family, demands financial foundation. Not wealth. Just stability.
Building a family isn’t a Disney dream. It’s strategy, intention, and sacrifice. It’s providing a future not just for yourself, but for the next generation. It’s making sure your children start where you finished—not where you started.
So stop aiming for “comfortable.” Aim for capable. Capable of leading, earning, loving, protecting. Capable of freedom.
Because freedom is the real goal. Not just a fridge full of food, but the ability to say “yes” when life gives you a worthy opportunity. Or “no” when life tries to trap you.
Don’t shrink to survive. Expand to lead.
Final Thought: The Rich Life Costs More—But It’s Worth It
Yes, life is costly. And the richer the life, the higher the cost.
But here’s the twist: the rich life pays you back. In memories. In love. In health. In legacy. In moments that make the price worth it.
So don’t run from the price tag. Prepare for it. Earn for it. Invest in it.
Because the best things in life aren’t free. They’re earned.
As a father of two. I’ve been telling my kids for years now, life doesn’t wait for when you feel ready. The bills start showing up whether you’re prepared or not. And while a lot of parents try to shield their kids from that reality, I’ve taken a different route.
ReplyDeleteI don’t want to raise them thinking they’ll “figure it out later” when later might already be too late. I let them feel the weight of money early, not in a harsh way, but in a way that teaches respect for time and effort. My 12-year-old already earns a little from doing extra work at home or helping out in our small shop. Not because I need him to, but because I want him to understand: value isn’t created by age, it’s created by action.
This blog put into words a lot of what I try to model, especially that idea of not delaying what really matters. Whether it’s building a family, earning, or just learning to be responsible, the earlier they start, the more runway they have. And in today’s world, that runway feels shorter than ever.
Appreciate this perspective. It reminds me I’m not crazy for going against the grain a bit for letting my kids grow into challenge instead of growing up after it.