Imagine sitting down for coffee with your teenage self — what would you say about money? Would you warn them about credit card traps, nudge them to start saving, or tell them it’s okay to mess up once in a while?
During a recent career day at my daughter’s high school, I spoke to a room full of students about budgeting, credit cards, and how to survive financial uncertainty. It made me think: If financial experts could talk to their younger selves, what money advice would they give?
So, I asked them — and their answers were honest, practical, and sometimes surprising. Here’s what they said:
1. Understand Where Your Money Goes
“Know your cash flow.” That’s the first thing Megan Kopka, a certified financial planner and former math teacher, would tell her teenage self.
Simply put, figure out how much money you’ve got coming in and where it’s going. It’s not about tracking every penny — it’s about seeing the bigger picture. Knowing your cash flow helps you avoid swiping your first credit card like it’s free money.
“Visualize what you have,” says Kopka. “The earlier you build these habits, the better off you’ll be.”
2. Start Saving With Purpose
Rahkim Sabree, a financial therapist, says if he could go back, he’d start saving sooner — and with a goal in mind.
“Life gets expensive fast,” he says. “The sooner you save, the better.”
Whether you’re saving for a PS5, a new phone, or even a trip with friends, having a purpose makes saving feel like progress, not punishment.
3. Don’t Just Save — Invest
Kopka worked at a bakery in high school and saved most of her paychecks — but she didn’t invest. Now, she wishes she had.
“If I had just put away $25 a month into an investment account, I’d be so far ahead,” she says.
Her advice: open an investment account as soon as possible. A Roth IRA is a great start — you contribute after-tax dollars, and your money grows tax-free for retirement.
4. Everyone’s Money Story Is Different — Respect Yours
Not everyone grows up the same way. Some teens work to help pay the bills, others don’t trust banks because of what they’ve seen at home.
Sabree says recognizing these differences — without shame or comparison — is powerful. Don’t fall into the trap of trying to “keep up with the Joneses.”
“Focus on your journey,” he says. “Not your classmate’s.”
5. Be Cautious With Debt — It’s Not Free Money
In high school, Sabree remembers hearing that student loans were just part of life. No one warned him how heavy that debt would feel later.
“Let’s stop downplaying the burden of debt,” he says.
Kopka agrees. She wants teens to understand what happens when you only make the minimum payment on a credit card — spoiler: you end up paying way more in interest.
Before signing up for any debt, understand the long-term cost.
6. It’s Okay to Start Late — Just Start
“People learn when they’re ready,” says Spenser Liszt, CFP and founder of Motif Planning.
And that’s okay.
Liszt didn’t open a Roth IRA until his thirties. He spent his earlier money on his music career — instruments, lessons, and school — and doesn’t regret it.
“Looking too far into the future can cause anxiety,” he says. “It’s never too late to start building your financial foundation.”
7. Your Mistakes Are Part of the Process
As someone who now writes about money for a living, I wish I’d known it was okay to make financial mistakes — even big ones.
I used to panic whenever my retirement account dipped. Even now, I lean too conservative. But that’s part of learning: discovering your money personality and figuring out how to grow from it.
The truth is, no one gets it perfect. What matters is that you keep learning, adjusting, and giving yourself grace along the way.
Final Thought
If you’re in high school or just starting out, here’s the cheat code: learn the basics, start small, ask questions, and don’t beat yourself up for not knowing it all.
Even the experts didn’t.
