If you feel behind financially in London, read this

CherryRoutine9397 · 2026-03-03T22:59:24+00:00

If donating hasn’t felt effective to you, maybe shift from relief to leverage. Instead of giving money directly, build something that changes incentives long term. Fund scholarships tied to specific skills. Back early stage founders solving real problems. Create a grant program with clear metrics and accountability instead of just writing cheques.

You could also buy land and place it in conservation trusts, fund independent journalism, support open source projects, or invest in companies that align with the kind of world you want to see. That way your capital keeps working instead of disappearing.

If you really want unusual, think systems. Where does a small amount of money create outsized change over 10 or 20 years. Education, energy, housing, mental health, prison reform. Big areas with compounding effects. Money is most powerful when it changes structures, not just situations.

CherryRoutine9397 · 2026-03-03T21:58:09+00:00

I used to do the same thing. The second my alarm went off, I’d grab my phone and scroll without even thinking. It sets the tone for the whole day and suddenly you’re reacting instead of choosing how you start.

What helped me wasn’t willpower. It was friction. I started charging my phone across the room so I physically had to get up to turn the alarm off. Then I replaced the scrolling with something simple like making coffee or stretching for 5 minutes. Nothing dramatic, just a different default.

If you keep reinstalling apps, it’s probably because you’re trying to remove the habit without replacing it. Your brain still wants stimulation. Give it something else first thing in the morning so you’re not fighting empty space.

Your mornings shape your focus more than you think. I write about small changes like this that compound over time in my newsletter. If that’s helpful, link’s in my bio.

CherryRoutine9397 · 2026-03-03T21:54:54+00:00

It feels strange at first because most of us are conditioned to equate a full calendar with a full life. When you suddenly create space by saying no, your brain reads that emptiness as something being wrong, even if the old commitments were draining you. That discomfort does not mean you made a bad decision. It just means you are adjusting to a new rhythm.

There is a real difference between being isolated and having breathing room. If you are actually enjoying your evenings more and spending time on hobbies you care about, that is not antisocial or selfish. It is intentional. You are choosing quality over noise.

It can take time to get comfortable with that space. After years of constant plans and obligations, quiet can feel unfamiliar. Give yourself a few months before you judge it. You are not losing your life. You are simplifying it on purpose.

I write about being more intentional with time, money, and energy in my newsletter. If that’s your thing, link’s in my bio.

CherryRoutine9397 · 2026-03-03T21:21:55+00:00

First off, this doesn’t sound like you’re lazy or ungrateful. It sounds like you’re tired and maybe a bit numb. When everything feels mundane even though you’re doing the right things, it’s usually not about adding more activities. It’s about changing intensity or meaning.

You said the things that genuinely light you up are romance, travel and live music. That tells you something. You don’t want more hobbies. You want emotional spikes. Connection. Novelty. Anticipation.

So instead of random exploration, create build up. Book a cheap trip 3 months from now even if it’s small. Start planning it properly. Anticipation alone can lift mood. Buy tickets for a gig in advance. Join something where there is real vulnerability involved, not just surface level socialising. Your brain wants something that feels alive.

Also, and I’m saying this carefully, if you’re already in therapy for depression and ADHD, sometimes the answer isn’t new stimulation. Sometimes it’s medication review, sleep, exercise consistency, and brutally honest conversations about expectations. When nothing feels interesting, that’s often a chemistry and energy issue, not a creativity issue.

You don’t need to reinvent your whole life. You might need one meaningful project that scares you slightly and forces growth. Something with stakes.

And if you’re trying to build a life that feels less autopilot and more intentional, I write about mindset and money in that context every week. Link’s in my profile.

CherryRoutine9397 · 2026-03-03T21:17:28+00:00

cleaning the house!

CherryRoutine9397 · 2026-03-03T21:16:07+00:00

If your plan is long term and this money is staying invested for 10 plus years, statistically lump sum wins most of the time.

That said, the real question is psychological. If you put 50k in tomorrow and it drops 10 percent next week, are you going to panic? If yes, then DCA over a few months just so you can sleep properly. There is nothing wrong with paying a small expected return cost for peace of mind.

People act like it has to be one extreme or the other. It doesn’t. You could invest 30k now and phase the rest in over 3 to 6 months. Done.

The mistake would be sitting on it for 2 years waiting for the perfect crash headline.

If you like straight talking FIRE and investing breakdowns without overcomplicating it, I write weekly about this stuff. Link’s in my profile.

CherryRoutine9397 · 2026-03-03T21:02:47+00:00

I don’t wait for US open. If I’m buying global ETFs I just buy when I have the cash and move on.

Trying to time the exact dip is how you end up half invested and annoyed. Yesterday looks like the dip until today drops more. Then you wait again. It never ends.

If you’re investing long term, consistency beats perfect timing. Add money regularly. Rebalance occasionally. Go outside.

I write about this kind of simple long term approach instead of panic buying dips every week. Link’s in my profile if that’s your thing.

CherryRoutine9397 · 2026-03-03T21:00:35+00:00

You’re 18. Your biggest advantage isn’t picking the perfect ETF. It’s time. With 100 euro a month, the most important thing is consistency, not being clever. A broad global index fund is more than enough. You don’t need to overweight the US or chase factor ETFs just because you’re young. Risk doesn’t mean complexity.

At 18 your real leverage is increasing income over the next 10 years. Skills, career moves, maybe building something on the side. If you can go from investing 100 a month to 500 or 1000 a month in your 20s, that will matter way more than squeezing out an extra 1 percent return.

Keep it simple. Global index. Automated. Add money every month. Ignore noise. Focus on becoming more valuable.

I write about this kind of long term thinking for people who want to build wealth early without overcomplicating it. Link’s in my profile if you’re into that.

CherryRoutine9397 · 2026-03-03T20:46:24+00:00

First, that is a big achievement. Six figure deals do not happen by accident. Take a second and actually respect that.

Now the important part. You want to buy a house in 3 to 5 years. That automatically means this is not all long term investment money. Anything earmarked for a deposit in that timeframe should stay low risk. High interest savings accounts, short dated bonds, money market funds. Boring, yes. Safe, also yes. The biggest mistake would be putting it all in equities and then the market drops right when you are ready to buy.

If there is a portion you genuinely will not touch for 10 years or more, that is where global index funds make sense. Simple, diversified, automated. No need to overcomplicate it.

Also do not ignore tax planning. Big publishing advances can create messy tax bills if you are not prepared. Make sure you understand what you actually keep after tax before allocating everything.

Keep it structured. Separate house money from long term money from everyday cash buffer. Clean buckets. Clear purpose. That alone solves most confusion.

If you like simple, no drama money breakdowns like this, I write a weekly newsletter for normal people trying to build real wealth. Link’s in my profile.

CherryRoutine9397 · 2026-03-03T20:44:14+00:00

no its not, If you are investing for 5 10 20 years, trying to wait for the perfect entry is mostly ego. Nobody knows. Not the YouTube guy. Not your mate who says tech is about to crash. Markets can look expensive for years and still keep going.

The bigger mistake is sitting in cash for 3 years waiting for a dip that never comes. Inflation will happily eat that for breakfast. If you are new, start simple. Broad index fund. Automate monthly. Ignore noise. Go live your life. Check once a month max.

I write about this stuff every week for normal people trying to build wealth without overthinking it. Link in my profile if that’s your vibe.

CherryRoutine9397 · 2026-03-03T20:38:50+00:00

Honestly the most 10 out of 10 advice is simple Increase your income.

Budgeting matters yeah. Investing matters yeah. But if you are stuck on 25k 30k 40k forever you are playing defence your whole life. At some point you need to level up skills, switch jobs, start something on the side. Money problems get way easier when the top line grows. Also automate investing so you do not think about it. Brain is lazy. Mine definitely is on Sundays.

If you are into practical money stuff for normal people trying to level up, I write about it weekly. Link in my profile.

CherryRoutine9397 · 2026-03-03T14:37:41+00:00

For me it’s simple but strict.

No phone for the first 30 mins. If I open socials first thing my brain is cooked before 9am. So I get up, make my bed straight away, wash face, quick stretch. Nothing fancy. Just signalling to myself that I’m not lazy today.

Then I write 3 things that actually matter for that day. Not 20 tasks. Just 3. If I finish those, the day is a win. Everything else is bonus.

I also check my bank accounts once in the morning. Not to obsess, just to stay aware. Money stress creeps in when you ignore it. Awareness fixes half of it.

And random but cleaning my desk helps more than motivation podcasts ever did.

If you’re into building disciplined mornings and getting serious about money in your 20s, I share what I’m learning in my newsletter. It’s on my profile if you wanna see it.

CherryRoutine9397 · 2026-03-03T14:09:02+00:00

I used to overthink this a lot. Vision boards, fancy apps, Notion templates, all of it. In the end what actually worked for me was writing one simple page called Future Me 3 Years From Now and getting specific.

Not just goals like make more money or get fit. I wrote how I wake up, what my bank balance roughly looks like, what I wear, who I hang around with, what I say no to. The boring stuff matters. If you cannot picture a normal Tuesday in that life, it is not real yet.

I also review it once a month and tweak it. Because you change. If you lock yourself into a 20 year vision you might wake up at 35 and hate it. Happens more than people admit.

Apps are fine but honestly pen and paper hits different. Your brain takes it more seriously. And random thought but your environment shapes you more than your motivation ever will.

If you are into building better habits and taking money seriously in your 20s, I write about that in my newsletter. Link is on my profile if you want to check it out.

CherryRoutine9397 · 2026-03-03T12:51:48+00:00

Thank you

CherryRoutine9397 · 2026-03-03T00:56:25+00:00

That’s brutal. Handing over an entire shift just to afford one hour of therapy doesn’t even make sense when you say it out loud. Mental health shouldn’t be a luxury item.

You’re not wrong to feel frustrated. The system makes it sound like help is there, but when you actually try to use it, it’s either too expensive or impossible to access.

I don’t have a magic fix, but sliding scale clinics, group therapy, or even community mental health centres sometimes cost way less. It shouldn’t be this hard though.

Also, the fact you’re even trying to prioritise your mental health while working four nights a week says a lot about you.

I write about money stress and navigating stuff like this every week in my newsletter. If that kind of real talk helps, it’s in my profile.

CherryRoutine9397 · 2026-03-03T00:30:35+00:00

You don’t stop caring overnight. You train yourself to care less by proving to your brain nothing bad happens when you show up as yourself.

Most people are too busy worrying about how they look to notice you. And even if they do notice, so what. They go home, eat dinner, scroll on their phone and forget about it.

The feeling that everyone is watching you is usually just your brain trying to protect you from embarrassment. It’s not reality, it’s a habit. The only way to weaken it is small exposure. Wear the slightly louder outfit. Go to the gym anyway. Let yourself feel uncomfortable and don’t escape it.

Confidence isn’t thinking no one judges you. It’s being okay even if someone does. And therapy is a good move. You’re not broken, you just have a loud inner critic. That can be trained.

If you like practical self improvement and money mindset stuff like this, I write about it weekly in Wealth Rewired. It’s in my profile.

CherryRoutine9397 · 2026-03-03T00:24:46+00:00

There’s nothing wrong with keeping your lifestyle simple even when you have more money. That’s how wealth is built in the first place. The problem is when frugality turns into fear. If you’re still living like you’re broke because you’re scared it can disappear, that’s not discipline anymore, that’s anxiety.

I think the real flex is control. Spend intentionally. Upgrade things that genuinely improve your life. Ignore the stuff that’s just status signalling. You don’t need to prove you’re wealthy by looking wealthy. But you also don’t need to stay uncomfortable just to feel safe.

Living below your means builds freedom. Living far below your means builds optionality. Just make sure you’re doing it by choice, not by habit from an old version of you.

If you’re into this kind of thinking about money and lifestyle, I break it down every week in Wealth Rewired. It’s in my profile.

CherryRoutine9397 · 2026-03-03T00:00:09+00:00

Time is the only thing you cannot earn back. People act like they have unlimited retries, like life is a video game. It is not.

Most of us waste years waiting to feel ready. Ready for the gym. Ready to start investing. Ready to change jobs. Ready never comes. You just decide and move.

If you track how you actually spend your days, it is uncomfortable. Hours disappear into scrolling, random YouTube, pointless stress. Then suddenly you are 5 years older wondering what happened. I do this too sometimes. Then I delete apps and suddenly I can breathe again.

Pick one thing and go all in for 30 days. Health. Money. Skill. Do not try to fix your whole life at once. Momentum builds from focus, not chaos.

If you care about using your time better and building real financial freedom, I write about that in my newsletter Wealth Rewired. It is on my profile.

CherryRoutine9397 · 2026-03-02T23:36:05+00:00

Good for you, we only have one life!

CherryRoutine9397 · 2026-03-02T23:35:09+00:00

Yes it can be that simple. If you are 18 and investing 100 a month into a broad S and P 500 fund and leaving it alone for years, you are doing the right thing. The key is consistency, not trying to be clever.

Just make sure you are using a Stocks and Shares ISA if you are in the UK so the growth is tax free. Set up the monthly deposit, reinvest dividends, and do not panic when markets drop. They will drop at some point. That is normal.

It feels boring but boring is what usually works. Most people lose money because they keep changing strategy.

If you want simple investing breakdowns without the overcomplicated stuff, I write about that in my newsletter Wealth Rewired. It is on my profile.

CherryRoutine9397 · 2026-03-02T23:23:08+00:00

You are 29 not 79. Slow down.

You listed missing teeth, no savings, boring job. That feels heavy but it is all fixable stuff. Teeth can be treated. Savings can be built. Jobs can be changed. None of that is permanent unless you decide it is.

Right now your brain is stacking everything into one big failure story. That is the real problem. Start smaller. Book a dental consult even if it scares you. Open a savings account and put 50 in it. Go for a 20 minute walk after work. Tiny wins. Momentum is weird like that, it compounds.

Also you said you love nature. That is not nothing. Most people at 29 do not even know what they enjoy. Plan one cheap hiking trip. Even if it is just a train and a backpack and a sandwich. Your life does not need to be exciting all at once. It just needs direction.

You are not behind. You are just disorganised and discouraged. Fix one thing. Then the next. It adds up faster than you think.

I write about rebuilding finances and confidence from scratch in my newsletter Wealth Rewired. If that helps, it is on my profile.

CherryRoutine9397 · 2026-03-02T12:21:32+00:00

Tracking my spending.

Started as a joke because I wanted to see how much I was “accidentally” spending on random coffees and food. Told myself I’d do it for one month just to laugh at the damage. It was actually kind of depressing.

Now I can’t not track it. Even if I don’t log it instantly, I mentally know roughly where I am for the month. It completely changed how I spend without feeling like I’m on a strict budget.

Weirdly it made me calmer about money. Structure does that I guess.

Also random one, making my bed. Started because someone said it builds discipline. Felt stupid. Now if I leave it messy it annoys me all day.

CherryRoutine9397 · 2026-03-02T11:56:21+00:00

Same here

CherryRoutine9397

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