‘Don’t Make Money To Spend’: Ankur Warikoo's Financial Advice For People In Their 20s
Financial influencer Ankur Warikoo shared 20 lessons he wishes he had known in his 20s, covering friendships, career choices, financial planning and personal growth.
Financial influencer and author Ankur Warikoo has shared a thread titled “20 Things I Wish I Was Told in My 20s” on LinkedIn. Reflecting on his experiences, Warikoo outlined key life lessons he wished he had known earlier, offering valuable advice for young professionals navigating adulthood.
Warikoo wrote, “I learnt most of these 20 lessons the hard way — and much later in life. I wish someone had sat me down and explained the lessons of growing up. Even a guide to growing up is published somewhere. In the absence of it, this thread is a start. I would love to know your lessons in the comments.”
He began his thread with a note on the changing nature of friendships. He said that it is natural to drift apart from school or college friends, adding that acknowledging this shift is healthier than clinging to past relationships out of guilt.
Another important lesson revolved around societal expectations and timelines. Warikoo cautioned against letting external pressures dictate life choices, saying, “The world will do everything to dictate a timeline for your life. Finish studies by 24. Get married by 27. Kids by 30. If you listen to the world, you will live their life. Not yours.”
He then addressed a common misconception about success, highlighting that being an extrovert is not a prerequisite for achievement. Instead, he encouraged introverts to focus on strengthening their unique abilities rather than forcing themselves to change.
Life plans, he stated, rarely go as expected, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. “Things will change. You will change. The world will change. And thus, your plans will change,” he wrote.
The fear of not having life figured out is universal, he said, noting that everyone in their 20s feels lost at some point. He wrote, “No one expects you to be sorted. But you will believe you are the only one who is not! The most binding trait of all those in their 20s is that all of them are trying to make sense of their life. No one has it figured.”
Warikoo also reminded his audience that youth is often misunderstood. While many in their 20s feel they are already running out of time, the truth is, they are still at the very beginning of their journey.
Financial wisdom was another theme. Warikoo advised against making money just to spend it, instead encouraging people to focus on financial independence. “Don’t make money to spend. Make it to retire.” He also warned that decisions driven by FOMO (fear of missing out) often lead to short-term thinking rather than long-term stability.
Relationships and self-awareness were recurring subjects in his post. He told his readers that they are responsible for their own happiness, not that of others. Warikoo stressed the importance of being liked, not for superficial reasons, but because positive relationships can make life smoother.
Ambitions and career goals, he said, should not be mistaken for absolute necessities. “Your goals are merely desires,” he wrote, reinforcing that it is okay for priorities to evolve over time. He also encouraged people to engage in meaningful conversations.
Integrity and curiosity were also highlighted. Warikoo pointed out that someone’s kindness should not be judged based on how they treat an individual, but rather on how they treat everyone around them.
Finally, he closed with a piece of advice about health, saying that neglecting one’s body in youth will have long-term consequences. “If you abuse your body, you won’t realise the harm until much later.”
Take a look at his full post here:
Warikoo’s post struck a chord with many people, sparking conversations in the comments section. One of the comments read, “The 20s are a time of exploration, mistakes, and growth—having these insights early can be a game-changer.”
Another user wrote, “Some lessons only life can teach, but threads like this help speed up the learning.”
“The words struck a chord with me for some reason. The more I find a way to sort things out, I am also realising the fact that not all things can be sorted that too in a specific time limit. Certain things in life are better if left untouched,” read one of the comments.
Another user stated, “These lessons are so valuable, and it’s refreshing to see them shared! It’s true—many of us learn these things the hard way, often later in life. Having someone to guide us through the growing-up process would have made such a difference.”
Overall, Ankur Warikoo’s post served as a reminder that life in the 20s is a time of uncertainty, growth, and exploration — and that keeping an open mind can make all the difference.
