Why Your 20s Are for Learning, Not Just Earning | The Money Guide

Why Your 20s Are for Learning (Not Just Earning)

Are your 20s feeling like a race already? Pressure to land the perfect job, buy the car, move out, and look like you’ve got it all figured out? The thing is, your 20s are perfect for learning. Its a time with low financial responsibility (likely no kids or mortgage), but full of possibility. This is the decade where you get to test, fail, explore, and grow without the risks that often come later in life.

Every experience - whether it’s a job you hate, a mentor who challenges you, or a financial mistake that stings - is a lesson that builds your foundation for the future. The people who use their 20s as a learning ground end up miles ahead in their 30s and beyond.

This blog isn’t about quick wins or hacks. It’s about seven key areas to start working on now so that by the time you hit 30, you’ve built the skills, habits, and networks that will give you real freedom and the ability to pass on your knowledge and experience to the next guy - financially, professionally, and personally.

1. Learn From People Ahead of You

At work, don’t just show up to tick the boxes and get out of there at 5pm. Look for people who are ahead of you and pay attention. Whether it’s your boss, a senior colleague, or someone in another department, these are people who have already walked the path you’re on.

Ask questions, watch how they handle challenges, and model their habits. Success leaves clues, and the earlier you start picking them up, the faster you’ll grow.

A nice guy in a suit: I approached people who seemed capable and gave off a good vibe. I’d ask them for a coffee or a walk and just tell them about myself. If the conversation flowed, I’d keep learning from them. Simple as that. Some of those chats turned into lifelong mentors.

2. Try Different Things Until Something Clicks

You don’t need to lock yourself into one career path right now. Your 20s are the perfect time to experiment. Try different roles, industries, and side projects.

Each time something doesn’t fit, you’re learning what you don’t want. Eventually, you’ll land in the sweet spot where skill, passion, and pay overlap, but you only get there by testing, not guessing.

From shy to confident: I started out working for a small business owner. Because I drove, I spent half my days delivering and installing computer parts across Sydney. It pushed me way out of my comfort zone, but over time, I grew more confident with responsibility — and realised I didn’t want driving to be a core part of my job.

3. Build Your Inner Circle Carefully

“You become the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” It's true.

Surround yourself with people who push you to grow - not those who drag you down or keep you stuck. Look for mentors, peers with ambition, and friends who celebrate your wins. Your inner circle will shape your mindset, habits, and opportunities more than you realise.

My corporate office lunches: Lunchtime with my work crew became like school recess, except we were swapping investing tips instead of footy stats. Those conversations shaped my money mindset, and those same friends later flew overseas for my wedding. That’s the power of your circle.

4. Connect and Share Your Story

Too many people hide their goals and dreams because they’re worried about being judged. But actually, opportunities usually come through conversations and shared understanding, not job ads.

When you share your story - what you’re interested in, what you want to do, where you want to go - the right people can connect you to jobs, introductions, and ideas you’d never find on your own. Speak up. Let people know what you’re about.

Being interviewed by an ex-colleague's wife: I once went for a dream job interview, and it turned out my potential boss already knew me through an ex-colleague’s wife. I didn’t land that role, but she referred me to another one where I ended up thriving. Connections matter.

5. Learn How to Handle Money Early

Money is one of the most important skills you can master in your 20s. Start by tracking how much you earn, spend, save, and invest.

This is more about control that restriction. When you know where your money is going, you can make smarter choices, build freedom, and avoid falling into traps that keep so many young adults stuck for years.

Getting ahead: Growing up, my money knowledge stopped at saving. It wasn’t until I worked at a bank that I learned about investing. Even a little bit of investing knowledge in your 20s can compound massively over time.

6. Don’t Blow $30k on a New Car

Nothing kills your freedom faster than a shiny new car on finance. Dealers make it feel easy - “just a few hundred a month” - but you’ve just chained yourself to years of repayments.

That $30k car isn’t really $30k. With interest, it’s more like $35k or more. Imagine what that money could do if it was invested instead. The truth? No car is worth your freedom. Buy smart, not shiny.

I still blew $20k on used: I once bought a $20k used car - half cash, half personal loan. Keeping the cash cushion felt safe, but the loan interest cost me thousands. If I had my time over, I’d buy a $5–10k car outright and keep the freedom.

7. Read and Learn From Others

Books, podcasts, and mentors are shortcuts. You can either make every mistake yourself, or you can learn from people who’ve already been there.

The people you look up to today once had no idea what they were doing either. By reading their stories, studying their habits, and applying their lessons, you save yourself years of wasted trial and error.

Reading and listening: A podcast at the gym and a few pages of non-fiction before bed have become my lifelong university degree. Who are you learning from, and in what format?

Conclusion

Your 20s don’t need to be about pressure, perfection, or having life figured out. They’re about building momentum through learning. Every job you try, every book you read, every mentor you connect with, and every financial decision you make is shaping the version of yourself who will thrive in your 30s and beyond.

If you see this decade as a classroom instead of a competition, you’ll walk away with the skills, confidence, and independence that money can’t buy. Don’t stress about keeping up with anyone else. Focus on learning, growing, and stacking lessons. Your future self will thank you.