I have a million tiny regrets from my 20s. Things like I wish I’d run a 5K and I wish I’d ever wanted to run a 5K for more than a second. Then there’s things like I kinda wish I kissed that one super handsome filmmaker from Australia and I wish I hadn’t kissed that one super rude banker from Long Island. And of course I wish I’d traveled to Europe at least once while I was living in New York but of course I wish I’d ever had enough money to travel to Europe at least once while I was living in New York. 

None of those things really matter in the grand scheme of things – even 20-something things – so those aren’t what if’s that I legitimately count.

The one regret I legitimately count is not investing in a retirement savings plan.

Sorry. You were probably hoping for something involving a tattoo and/or late-night romp with a celebrity.

I’ve thought about writing this post a lot these past few months. My finances are something I’m typically very private about, especially the embarrassing elements of my finances. But the whole purpose of this blog was to be open and honest about my own experience to help others make it through their 20s in one (hopefully more financially solvent) piece. It started to seem unfair to skirt this incredibly important issue just because it makes me feel like a boob.

The other reason is that maybe if I put it here in writing I’ll be inspired to actually take a step forward – and by inspired I mean shamed into…

There are plenty of reasons why I don’t currently have a nest egg for my eventual retirement. Things like, “I once made 28K and lived in Manhattan,” and, “Once I finally made more than 28K, I had credit card debt to pay off,” and, “Once I finally made considerably more than 28K, I had to start saving money to leave my job and become a full-time writer!”

These are all “legitimate” reasons. For much of my 20s, I have lived pay check to pay check. It’s hard to squeeze out and extra X% per month for the far away future when you’re putting dental work on a credit card.

But it also isn’t so hard.

If I had saved only $50 per month for the past 10 years of my life I’d have $6,000. That’s not enough money to retire on, but it’s more than nothing. If I’d scrounged a bit more and saved $100, I’d have $10,000. If I added any work bonuses and freelance earnings, I’d have even more.

While none of that is a lot of money, it’s something, and something is better than nothing. The other thing about “something” – no matter how small the amount – is that it starts a pattern of spending and saving that stays with you for life. It’s a priorities thing, not a money thing.

For the past ten years my priorities have been the “here and now.” I intend to make up for what I haven’t saved over the course of these next decades, and I think I’ve set myself up to do so, but just knowing that I could have saved X amount over the entirety of my 20s is frustrating – incredibly nerdy, and, considering all the regrets I could have, totally manageable, but still something to look back on as I look forward. 

Oh, also, I was once at a party with John Legend and I pretended I didn’t know that he was John Legend. That story is here, and it’s my second biggest regret in life. Talk about being a boob…

Long story short: save your money and don’t pretend you don’t recognize an international music celebrity when you meet one.