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ILLUMINATION’S MIRROR

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25 Money Lessons I’ve Learned at 25

4 min readApr 16, 2025

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Photo by Jeremiah Vega —

When you’re in your mid-20s, you’re officially not a child anymore, and you start to learn the hard truths about money. Here are some of the lessons I’ve learned:

Track Every Expense

If you don’t know where your money is going, someone else does — and they’re getting rich off your ignorance.

Avoid Lifestyle Creep

Just because you can afford something doesn’t mean you should buy it. Wealth isn’t built on flexing; it’s built on patience.

Build an Emergency Fund

Life NEVER gives warnings — it just happens. Bill collectors don’t care about your job loss, car repairs, or rising education costs. Aim for at least six months’ worth of expenses.

Invest Early and Often

I started at 18, but I’ve had to dip into my investments multiple times due to investing too aggressively and not having a proper emergency fund. Balance is key.

Credit Cards Are a Tool, Not Free Money

Swiping without thinking sells your future self short and leads to financial slavery — all…

ILLUMINATION’S MIRROR
ILLUMINATION’S MIRROR

Published in ILLUMINATION’S MIRROR

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Jeremiah Vega
Jeremiah Vega

Written by Jeremiah Vega

Financial Analyst writing about the value and importance of financial literacy.