Want to take control of your income in your 20s?

One of the smartest money moves I made was learning how to make money online - more specifically, selling digital products.

I teach the full process inside Online Creator Course

This blog post is based on my YouTube video, where I share the most important money lessons I learned in my 20s—from avoiding debt to building wealth through investing and digital income.

If you'd like, you can watch the full video below.

Watch the full video here

Mastering your money in your 20s can change your entire life

Let’s be honest.

We’re not taught anything useful about money in school.

Unless you have financially savvy parents (lucky you), most of us are left figuring it out on our own.

And by the time we realise how important it is, we’re already playing catch-up.

So this post is all about the essential money lessons I learned in my 20s—the hard way.

These are the habits, principles, and shifts that completely changed the way I manage my finances and think about money.

Whether you're 20 or 40, these are things I wish someone had told me earlier.

1. Credit Cards Aren’t Free Money

Credit cards look fancy.

They feel like free money.

But if you don’t know what you’re doing, they’re one of the quickest ways to wreck your finances.

I’ve seen people fall deep into credit card debt simply because they didn’t understand how it worked.

Interest adds up fast.

Miss one payment, and suddenly you owe double what you spent.

When should you use a credit card?

If you’re using it to build credit or earn points on expenses you already make—great.

That’s what I do.

For example, I use my American Express card to collect points on business expenses, then redeem them for flight upgrades.

But never use credit cards for money you don’t have.

If you’re not disciplined with spending, avoid them entirely.

2. Learn to Cook (Seriously)

Takeout is tempting.

Delivery is easy.

But those costs add up quickly.

Some months, I’ve looked back and realised I’ve spent $300–$400 just on eating out.

That same amount could cover nearly a month of groceries if I cooked at home.

Learning to cook isn’t about being a gourmet chef.

For me, it’s simple:

Protein, carbs, veg.

That’s it!

It’s quick, affordable, and keeps me healthy.

Cooking your own meals is one of the easiest money-saving habits you can build in your 20s—and it pays off massively in both your wallet and your wellbeing.

I’m not saying never eat out.

Food is one of life’s joys.

But if you want to save money, feel better, and take care of your health—learn how to cook a few meals.

It’s an underrated skill that pays off every single week.

3. Build an Emergency Fund

Emergencies don’t give warnings.

Whether it’s a sudden medical bill, job loss, or urgent travel, having 3–6 months of expenses saved can be life-changing.

I personally keep 6–12 months of expenses tucked away – just in case.

Don’t wait until you need it.

Set up an emergency fund now and automate a portion of your income into it.

This way you don’t have to be dipping into your savings or investments.

You’ll thank yourself later.

4. Start Investing Early

One of my biggest regrets? Not investing sooner.

I didn’t get serious about investing until my mid-twenties.

And when I look at the gains my portfolio has made since – over 170% in three years – I can’t help but think how much further ahead I’d be if I started earlier.

Here’s the thing:

• You don’t need to be an expert.

• You don’t need to pick individual stocks.

• You just need to start.

For most people, investing in a low-cost index fund like the S&P 500 is a great way to build long-term wealth.

The S&P 500 is a stock market index that tracks the performance of the 500 largest companies in the U.S.—basically a snapshot of the American economy.

And the best part is that you can start with as little as $1.

If you’re not investing, your money is losing value every year to inflation.

And don’t forget: investing in yourself is just as powerful.

Learn new skills.

Try side hustles.

Start building something.

Your 20s are the best time to do it.

5. Watch Out for Lifestyle Creep

This one creeps up on you.

You start making more money, and suddenly… everything gets more expensive.

New car.

Nicer apartment.

Fancy clothes.

Expensive phone.

I get it.

We’ve all been there.

But here’s what I learned: if your spending increases every time your income does, you’ll never build wealth.

I’m not saying don’t enjoy your money.

Just don’t fall into the trap of spending more just because you can.

Always be putting money aside for investing, saving, or building something of your own.

6. Saving Alone Isn’t Enough

This is the one that took me a while to fully understand.

Saving money is great.

But there’s only so much you can save from a fixed salary.

Meanwhile, costs of living are constantly rising..

At some point, you need to shift your focus from just saving to earning more.

That might mean starting a side hustle.

Asking for a raise.

Creating digital products.

Building an audience.

Selling a service.

There’s no limit to how much you can earn—but there’s definitely a limit to how much you can save.

I realised that the energy I spent trying to save a few pounds here and there could be used to build something that makes me thousands.

That changed everything.

7. Prioritise Learning About Money

No one is going to teach you unless you go out and learn it.

In your twenties, you’ve got time, energy, and flexibility.

Use it.

Read books, watch YouTube videos, follow creators who share real insights, and most importantly—apply what you learn.

The habits and lessons you build now will carry through your 30s, 40s, and beyond.

Your 20s Are a Money Cheat Code

If you’re in your twenties, you have time.

That’s your advantage.

Start building smart habits now, and your future self will thank you in a big way.

• Don’t rely on credit.

• Learn to cook.

• Build that emergency fund.

• Start investing—even if it’s just $10 a month.

• Avoid lifestyle creep.

• Focus on increasing your income, not just cutting back.

• Make learning about money a priority.

Ready to Learn How to Make Money Online?

If you want to start building income streams beyond your 9-to-5, check out my Online Creator Course.

I’ll show you exactly how I turned my skills into digital products, built my audience, and started making passive income.

It’s everything I wish I knew in my twenties—laid out step-by-step.

Start your journey here.