5 things I NEVER bought in my 20s

I buy it now but NEVER in my 20s

Welcome to reThinkable - my Sunday newsletter where I share actionable money tips, strategies, and resources to help you make smarter money moves.

Read time: 4.0 minutes

Hey friend,

I turn 30 in June and I’ve noticed something strange…

I now spend my money on things I would’ve never even considered in my early 20s.

In my early 20s, I thought being “good with money” was all about pinching pennies and saving.

Now, I know being “good with money” is about maximizing the VALUE of your spending. 

In today’s newsletter, I wanted to share 5 ways I spend my money differently now that focuses on value. 

PS: This is specific to me. You might HATE how I spend my money and that’s totally fine. Your Freedom Life is yours.

1. Old vs New

I’ve gotten really into thrifting these days.

In my early 20’s, I thought it was gross. I was like, why would I sift through old clothes that smell like my grandma’s attic when I can buy something brand new?

Spoiler alert: new clothes are terrible quality 

2 months ago, I went into a thrift store and bought a 100% wool overcoat that was made in the USA from the 1990s, for only $9. Total steal.

20-year-old Vincent would’ve gone for a new $30 jacket at H&M instead which:

  1. would be made of 100% polyester (i.e. plastic)

  2. wouldn’t keep me warm, and

  3. would need to be replaced in 3 months

2. Investing in Shortcuts

I used to think paying for courses and coaches was a waste of money. Why pay someone for information when I can find it online for free?

But now I get it. 

No matter which option you choose, you will pay for it. You either pay for it with your time or you pay for it with your money.

For example, if you wanted to learn how to design websites as a side hustle. You could watch 97 video tutorials, read 4 books, and study 52 blog articles and you’ll eventually learn how to do it. But you’re gonna spend months trying to piece everything together because all the information is everywhere.

On the other hand, if you bought a course or hired a coach, all the information you need is in one place. If you have any questions, or experience any roadblocks, you can ask the coach and get answers tailored specific to your situation. 

To be clear: there's no right or wrong option, it depends on you: do you want to pay with your time or pay with money?

I prefer to pay with money because I could always make more money but I can never get my time back.

3. Supporting Others

In my early 20s, donating or giving money away to support causes and people that are important to me didn’t really cross my mind. I prioritized building my financial foundation so this never felt “part of the plan.”

Now I realize that supporting causes that are important to me adds real value to my life. 

Whether it's donating to an organization I care about, supporting a friend's small business, or tipping a little more, spending money this way makes me happier than spending it on something else (like a video game).

Speaking of supporting meaningful projects, one of my close friends recently created "My Amazing Body," a bilingual board book that introduces babies to Chinese with support for non-native Chinese-speaking parents. If you’re interested, or know someone who might be, check it out and support the project on Kickstarter.

4. Setting Bigger Milestones

9 years ago, my goals were pretty short-term: save $10,000, take a cheap trip to Texas (if I had time off), but I wasn’t thinking much beyond the next 6 months.

Now I aim higher. 

One of my current goals is to hit 1 million YouTube subscribers. That’s not something you stumble into: it takes strategy, consistency, and showing up even when growth feels slow.

And when I reach my milestones, I’m not afraid to celebrate in a big way. I’m talking about a nice vacation in an all-inclusive resort, fruity cocktail in hand, Wi-Fi turned off. 

20-year-old Vincent would’ve been staying at a $5 hostel and living off instant ramen. That was fun, but it’s just not where I am anymore.

I set big goals, so I reward myself like I mean it.

5. Health is Wealth

Lately, I’ve focused more on my health. I want to look good, but more importantly—I want to feel good. 

In my early 20s, I only really thought about my health when I got sick. The rest of the time I’d eat whatever the latest fast food deal was and sleep 4-5 hours a night.

That kind of worked when I was 20. Kinda.

Now, I actively work to be as healthy as possible because health is wealth.

I use a sleep tracker to optimize my sleep. I use a fitness tracker to encourage myself to workout at least 3x a week. I use vitamins and supplements to fill in the gaps. And yes…I’m now a person who actively Googles the fiber content of food (fun fact: 95% of American adults don’t get enough).

So yeah… with my 30th birthday creeping up, I’ve been thinking about how much my spending habits have evolved—and honestly, I’m glad they have.

Now I’m curious: what’s something you spend money on now that your younger self would’ve never thought of? Reply to this email and let me know.

To making smarter money moves,

— Vincent Chan

Vincent Chan

Find me on Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube

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