What I Would Tell My 17 Year Old Self About Money + Life

Recently I recorded a short episode of my podcast Rebel with a Plan reflecting on something that has been sitting with me for a while.

What would I tell my seventeen year old self about money and life?

Seventeen is an interesting age. You are standing right on the edge of adulthood. The world feels wide open, but there is also this quiet expectation that you should somehow know what you are doing next.

What you are going to study.
What career you will pursue.
What direction your life will take.

Looking back now as a financial adviser, a business owner and a mother watching my own children move towards adulthood, there are a number of lessons I wish someone had shared with me earlier.

Not complicated lessons. Just honest ones.

The first thing I would say is that you do not need to have everything figured out.

At seventeen it can feel like the next decision determines your entire future. The reality is that most people change direction several times throughout their lives. Careers evolve. Interests change. Opportunities appear that you could never have predicted.

Clarity tends to come through experience, not from trying to design the perfect life plan too early.

The second lesson is to start understanding money earlier.

Most people step into adulthood without a clear understanding of how money actually works. School teaches many valuable things, but practical financial literacy is rarely one of them.

Concepts like compound growth, investing, superannuation and debt often only appear later in life, sometimes after costly mistakes.

Learning how the financial system works earlier simply gives you more control over your future.

The third lesson is that small financial habits matter far more than big financial moments.

Financial progress is rarely built through one dramatic decision. It is usually created through consistent habits.

Saving regularly.
Avoiding high interest debt.
Investing small amounts over time.

These things may not feel significant at the beginning, but over decades they compound into something powerful.

Which leads to the fourth lesson.

Time is one of the greatest financial advantages you will ever have.

When I meet clients later in life, one of the most common things they say is that they wish they had started investing earlier. The reason is simple. Time allows money to grow.

Starting earlier means even small decisions have decades to work in your favour.

The fifth lesson is about your relationship with money.

Money is not purely mathematical. It is emotional.

The way we think about money is often shaped by what we observed growing up, the conversations we heard around money and the experiences we had early in adulthood.

Developing a healthy relationship with money means understanding it as a tool rather than something to fear or avoid.

The sixth lesson is something many people underestimate.

The people and environments around you shape how you think about money and opportunity.

If you surround yourself with people who avoid money conversations or live in constant financial stress, it becomes easy to adopt those same beliefs.

On the other hand, being around people who talk about ideas, opportunities, business or investing can expand the way you see the world.

Environment shapes behaviour more than most people realise.

The seventh lesson is to respect debt.

Not all debt is equal. Some forms of debt can create opportunities, such as education or building assets. Other forms of debt, particularly high interest consumer debt, can quietly erode financial stability.

Understanding the difference is an important life skill.

The eighth lesson is that financial independence creates choice.

Money itself is rarely the goal.

The real benefit of financial stability is freedom.

Freedom to make decisions that align with your values. Freedom to change direction when something is not working. Freedom to support the people and things that matter most.

Financial independence gives you options.

And finally, the ninth lesson.

Life is about more than money.

While financial literacy is important, wealth is not only measured in dollars. It is also measured in experiences, relationships and the ability to live in alignment with what matters most to you.

Money simply supports those possibilities.

If I could sit down with my seventeen year old self today, the conversation would probably be quite simple.

You do not need to have everything worked out.

Learn how money works.
Build good habits.
Choose environments that help you grow.

Those small steps will shape your future far more than you realise at the time.

And your future self will be very grateful that you started paying attention earlier.

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General Advice Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is general in nature and does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider whether the information is appropriate for your circumstances and seek personalised financial advice before making any financial decisions.