Many people feel pressure to have life figured out early.
At 17 or 18, fresh out of high school, many people start making decisions that may shape the next several years of their lives. What are you going to study? What career do you want? Where do you see yourself in five or 10 years? And perhaps the biggest question of all: how are you going to pay for it?
And then, for some people sooner and for others much later, there may come a realization that life does not always follow a perfectly linear path.
For many people, figuring out what they want may involve changing programs, going back to school or learning a completely new skill. And for others, it may involve taking a course while working, exploring a new career or simply giving themselves permission to be a beginner again.
The financial side of those decisions matters, too.
Going back to school or investing in new skills can come with new expenses, which is why having a plan for your money with Desjardins may help support you as you work toward your next steps.
Starting with where you are
Building a financial foundation does not necessarily require a complex financial strategy.
From there, there are options designed to help you save for short-term goals, pay for school and work toward longer-term goals.
That could mean using a savings account to build an emergency fund or putting money aside for a specific goal or project.
But the great thing is that the idea isn’t to have everything figured out at once. It’s to start building financial habits that can give you more flexibility as your plans evolve.
Writing your next chapter can look different
A common perception is that education has an expiry date. But learning doesn’t have to happen on one specific timeline.
Maybe the thing you wanted to study at 20 isn’t what interests you at 30. Maybe the career you imagined doesn’t fit anymore. Maybe you’ve discovered a new interest that you want to explore. Those changes do not necessarily mean the time you’ve already spent was wasted. They may be part of learning more about yourself. And your finances can evolve alongside you.
Taking the time to understand your options can help you make decisions with more confidence.
You may not need to compare your financial situation to someone else’s. Career paths and financial starting points can vary from one person to another. Starting with what you can manage may be one way to build from there.
Desjardins has financial products, services and advice that may support young people ages 18 to 30 in managing their everyday finances, saving, investing and funding their education as they work toward their goals.
Because you don’t need to know exactly where you’re going to start preparing for the journey.
Your timeline is your own. Your education can be, too. Find out more today at Desjardins website, and continue the conversation with Count Us In, a Desjardins series exploring the financial realities, career challenges and perspectives of Ontario’s youth.
