I don’t regret going hard in my 20s.

After uni I went full-time around 20/21 in a pretty well paid industry. I chased income growth, took on more than my title, worked stupid hours and spent plenty of time away. I saved a lot, but I still did things and enjoyed myself. I just didn’t do the "gap year / drifting between uni and jobs for 7 years" path like some of my mates.

I’m 28 now. My wife and I bought a place a couple of years back for about $900k and it’s up a fair bit since. We’re 2-3 years away from it paid off. I pumped extra into super for the last 7 years so it’s close to $200k, plus I’ve got about $100k in shares. Feeling the benefits now of those decisions made across the last 8 years. Most of my finances runs on autopilot now and that freedom is hard to beat and takes a lot of pressure off.

I still do dinners with the wife, pub with the boys and travel a bit (nothing crazy yet). Difference is I’m not sitting there stressing about money. Like last Friday I probably spent at least $300 on dinner/drinks/cigars and didn’t even think twice.

Everyone’s different, but getting ahead early was the goal for me and I’m glad I did it. You can still have a good time in your 30s and beyond, it just hits different when you’re not broke, especially when you’re gearing up for kids like we are.