“The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago. The second best time is now.” ~ Chinese Proverb
I love this quote because we can apply it to so many things in our lives, including our own personal finances. However, so many times we get to a certain age or reach a milestone in our life and we think that it is too late to change how we handle our finances.
“I’m 50. I am too old to start to save for retirement.”
“I’m married and have three children. I will never be able to pay off my student loans.”
“I have worked at my boring job for 15 years now. I can not quit and pursue my dream of self-employment.”
But you know what? You can change; the decision is up to you. Of course it would have been better if you would have started to contribute to your 401(K) twenty years ago. It would have been better if you had cleaned up your student loan mess before you got married. What happened in the past happened in the past, but you can decide to change your future today!
When it comes to how you handle your finances, you are never at a place of no return. Sit down and do an evaluation on yourself and determine what is holding you back. Is it having no plan? The pressure of monthly payments? Working a dead-end job that you hate? Determining what is holding you back and figuring out how to eliminate it from your life is the key to getting where you want to go. But remember, wherever you are in life, it is never too late to change your future!