I got my first decent-paying job when I was 17. It was a call center and I had to sell mobile phone subscriptions to people. The job wasn’t satisfying, but the money was pretty good for a 17-year-old, especially during the summer when I could work more.

I can’t remember exactly how much I made, but it was something like €2000 a month when I worked six days a week. Living with my parents, I had no expenses, so that was money I could spend or save. And like most people that age, I obviously did the former. 

I didn’t know any better. But over the years, I’ve learned a lot about money from simply observing wealthy people. If I could go back and teach myself some financial lessons, I would’ve changed my financial mindset way earlier. 

Here’s what I would tell myself.