Retaining all the knowledge you have now, what would you do if you were a 20-something in this day and age?

https://www.reddit.com/r/AskOldPeople/comments/1iyahaf/retaining_all_the_knowledge_you_have_now_what/

created by VoidlessLove on 26/02/2025 at 00:27 UTC

23 upvotes, 72 top-level comments (showing 25)

It's something that's riddled the back of my mind.

Comments

Comment by AutoModerator at 26/02/2025 at 00:27 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Please do not comment directly to this post unless you are Gen X or older (born 1980 or before). See this post[1], the rules, and the sidebar for details. Thank you for your submission, VoidlessLove.

1: https://www.reddit.com/r/AskOldPeople/comments/inci5u/reminder_please_do_not_answer_questions_unless/

2: /message/compose/?to=/r/AskOldPeople

Comment by NevermoreForSure at 26/02/2025 at 00:31 UTC

35 upvotes, 1 direct replies

1. Start saving money earlier.

2. Take better care of myself.

3. Know my worth.

4. Have more fun with friends.

Comment by QV79Y at 26/02/2025 at 00:48 UTC

18 upvotes, 3 direct replies

It's a different world now than it was when I was young. I have no particular insight into it.

Comment by Twenty_6_Red at 26/02/2025 at 00:38 UTC

13 upvotes, 2 direct replies

Find a cabin in the woods

Comment by Archiemalarchie at 26/02/2025 at 00:56 UTC

12 upvotes, 1 direct replies

I'm afraid all the knowledge I have now, is only good for living in the 80's

Comment by SnoopyFan6 at 26/02/2025 at 01:09 UTC

11 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Start the process to move to Canada and become a Canadian citizen.

Comment by bleepitybleep2 at 26/02/2025 at 00:55 UTC

9 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Never get into a relationship

Comment by PawzzClawzz at 26/02/2025 at 00:46 UTC

7 upvotes, 1 direct replies

Looking at the shape of the world, and the USA in particular (where I am), I'd be scared shitless.

Comment by twoshovels18 at 26/02/2025 at 00:44 UTC

6 upvotes, 1 direct replies

Probably invest in, Bottled water. I can remember when the grocery store had maybe 4 one gallon jugs of water. I remember no bottle water like today. My gf mom who is 87 years old grew up dirt poor in Puerto Rico and her sister came to America & somehow figured out to invest in bottled water. They are very well off now.

Comment by TfcGoblin at 26/02/2025 at 00:47 UTC

5 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Probably have a mental breakdown due to the decline of modern civilizations intelligence.

Comment by sudsaroo at 26/02/2025 at 01:08 UTC

4 upvotes, 1 direct replies

I would stop buying crap and save every nickle that I could. Trust me. you never have enough. I'm 70.

Comment by SuperTeacherStudent at 26/02/2025 at 00:49 UTC

4 upvotes, 0 direct replies

I guess do everything I can to make money before everything crashes down. The smart young people I notice are generating passive income through social media. The ones who won't do so well are the ones trying to follow their parents' roads to success. With the rise of AI, those traditional paths of computer programming, medicine, and/or law will be gone before the end of the decade.

Comment by jamiekynnminer at 26/02/2025 at 00:50 UTC

5 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Ignore everything my mom told me to do and do the opposite.

Comment by Seeker_Asker at 26/02/2025 at 00:50 UTC

3 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Learn to code instead of doing accounting. Party less, celebrate friends more. Start saving earlier and be less worried about having the latest and greatest stuff.

Comment by t-rex_leggings at 26/02/2025 at 00:58 UTC

4 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Don't stay in your home town go see stuff!

Comment by FantasticTumbleweed4 at 26/02/2025 at 01:21 UTC

4 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Invest in pharmaceuticals,of course I did that back 70ā€™s too but not quite in the same way

Comment by Remote_Clue_4272 at 26/02/2025 at 00:46 UTC

3 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Maybe military. Start in one of the trades.

Comment by diamondgreene at 26/02/2025 at 00:50 UTC

3 upvotes, 0 direct replies

If I was 20 in my own day and age, Iā€™d go to all the gd concerts-even the $25 ones our eyes bugged out at and buy all the band shirts

Comment by wyocrz at 26/02/2025 at 00:51 UTC

3 upvotes, 0 direct replies

I would be more of an AI Luddite than I already am.

Comment by PCVictim100 at 26/02/2025 at 01:01 UTC

3 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Gods forbid I should be twenty in this time.

Comment by NaynersinLA2 at 26/02/2025 at 01:05 UTC

3 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Married a different man.

Bought Amazon stock when it was dirt cheap.

Gone to grad school.

Never started smoking šŸš¬.

Comment by KimBrrr1975 at 26/02/2025 at 01:08 UTC

3 upvotes, 1 direct replies

Sidenote: I grew up in a family that lived that way and it's not completely foreign to me so I have some skills and knowledge I could have easily built on with some help from my (willing) family. My choice to take out loans for college was my first big mistake, it forced the direction of my life for decades after and I only got out from under them because Biden forgave them. Knowing what I know now, I'd never recommend student loans.

Comment by HannyBo9 at 26/02/2025 at 01:08 UTC

3 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Save and invest. Take care of your health.

Comment by BurnerLibrary at 26/02/2025 at 01:09 UTC

3 upvotes, 0 direct replies

I'd grab my handsome hubby and make sure HE had also become young again! šŸ˜‰

Comment by sysaphiswaits at 26/02/2025 at 01:10 UTC

3 upvotes, 0 direct replies

1. Go to trade school instead of college

2. Go to L.A. and chase my dream of becoming a professional actor. (I still would have failed at it, but I would have failed faster)

3. Had sex with more people. (Raised conservative and religious)