The financial decisions made in the 20s carry disproportionate weight because of the time available for them to compound — the investment not made at 25 is not simply delayed but permanently smaller than it would have been. Debt from education, the first negotiated salary, and the habit of living within means are not minor details; they are the foundation. The examined life begins with the ledger, and the time to look at the ledger is before the habits solidify.
Zera