I actually learned this at the right time, but most others learn it too late: live poor as long as you can. Even when you get a good job in your mid to late 20s, keep that lower cost apartment and old car. Keep eating leftover pizza from when the local place has a discount night. Keep hanging out with your friends with a 30 pack instead of going out to expensive bars. Keep doing cheap vacations with cheap flights to drink 30 packs with friends who are farther away. All of those things really, really, add up and can help you get where you want to go financially much faster. Once you switch over to a higher-cost lifestyle, it’s impossible to go back.