If you’ve ever found yourself gently offering advice to a child or grandchild about money or resisting the urge to say “I told you so” you’ll know just how complicated financial conversations can be.

In the most popular episode of The Financial Wellbeing Podcast, we asked a question that sparked far more than just nostalgic memories:

What financial advice would you give your 18-year-old self?

What followed was a warm, honest and often funny conversation. And while the lessons were framed around youth, they speak just as clearly to the challenges and opportunities many of us still face — whether we’re decades past 18 or guiding someone who’s just getting started.

What Seemed Sensible Then

Looking back, it’s easy to spot the times we made decisions based on what we thought was expected. Picking a university course because it led to a “real job.” Saying yes to a role that felt secure — but never truly sparked interest.

Many of us were told to focus on what we were “good at” or what would “earn well,” rather than being asked what we enjoyed. The problem is, when we make choices based solely on financial logic, we risk building lives that don’t feel like our own.

That realisation often arrives much later, after a few career shifts, or long conversations with clients about what really matters now, not just what made sense then.

Talking About Money — Or Not Talking About It

It’s striking how many people admit that in their younger years, they simply didn’t think about money much. For some, there can often be a sense of invincibility, a belief that the future would sort itself out.

For others, there a quiet anxiety, but no one to talk to about it. Often linked to debt: student overdrafts that became long-term burdens, credit cards used too freely, or borrowing from friends and struggling to pay it back. It wasn’t just the numbers that left a mark — it was the guilt, the shame, and the emotional cost that lingered.

We know now that money mistakes leave emotional footprints. In our confidence, our relationships, and our sense of control. And we also know that shame doesn’t help. Compassion, reflection, and curiosity do.

Save Some, Spend Some — and Be Clear on What For

Interestingly, the point wasn’t that young people should avoid spending — quite the opposite. In fact, one of the most meaningful takeaways was this: money is for living. The trick is knowing what you want that life to look like.

Many people wish they’d been told it’s okay to enjoy your money, but to do so intentionally. One story described saving half of any windfall and using the other half to create memories. That’s financial wellbeing in action: balance, freedom, and joy.

There was also a reminder that experiences tend to stay with us, far more than the things we buy. The nights away with friends. The concert you’ll never forget. The family meal you paid for as a treat. These are what last.

Learn the Basics Early — They Compound Too

Beyond the deeper mindset shifts, a few practical habits made a regular appearance:

• • Learn to cook. It saves more than money — it builds independence.

• • Start your pension as early as you can. Small contributions grow quietly but powerfully.

• • Understand what debt really is: not free money, but future pressure.

• • If university doesn’t feel right, don’t force it. There are other paths — including into financial planning.

It’s not about mastering everything at once. It’s about building awareness early, and forming habits that support your values rather than working against them.

The Real Question: What Do You Want From Life?

If there was a golden thread running through Episode 80, it was this:

Money should support your life, not dictate it.

That means taking the time, whether you’re 18 or 50, to ask yourself;

• • What matters most.

• • What brings you joy?

• • What does security look like for you?

• • What kind of life are you trying to build?

When we can answer those questions, even roughly, financial planning becomes something far more meaningful. Not a spreadsheet exercise — but a life decision.

As Chris Budd puts it: “Work out what you want from life. Then spend your money on that.” Simple. Transformative. And something we return to again and again with our clients.

A Conversation Worth Starting

Perhaps the real power of this conversation isn’t just the advice itself — it’s the invitation to talk.

If you’re a parent or grandparent, there’s enormous value in gently passing on your own experiences. Not as a lecture, but as a story. And if you’re still working through some of these lessons yourself (as we all are), that’s okay too.

Financial wellbeing is a journey — one that improves with reflection, with honesty, and with a bit of kindness towards our younger selves.

🎧 Listen to Episode 80: “10 Financial Tips for Your 18-Year-Old Self”
💬 Or speak to your Ovation planner — we’re here to help you, and the people you care about, build a financial plan rooted in what truly matters.