I know I have so much more life to live at 24.

But I am ever-so-grateful that my experiences so far have given me a wealth of knowledge on how to handle life’s obstacles in the future.

Here is what I’ve learned about life, so far, at 24

1.Never hold back in saying what you REALLY want to say when the moment arises. If you don’t, the moment will haunt you forever and you will regret not speaking up.

2.Always be kindly honest with your significant other — tell them that you’re not satisfied with the sex, tell them you were upset to see them flirt with that other person, tell them that you feel as if the passion is fizzling out of the relationship. If you don’t the relationship will stagnate because the problems are never addressed.

3. Cut off toxic friendships and relationships IMMEDIATELY. They are mentally, physically and spiritually draining and you should always surround yourself with positive, uplifting energy.

4. Don’t listen to anyone who says, “Wait until you graduate college before you get a job.” I had a friend who had an overbearing mother who insisted that she wait to get a job AFTER she got a degree. She wouldn’t listen to me and, as we speak, she is still paying for this mistake since she’s years behind in experience in comparison to her peers.

5. Live your life for YOU — do not do anything, at your own expense, to make someone else happy. No one should dictate how you should live your life. At the end of the day, you know what makes you happy.

6. Do not live by “YOLO” with your money. Start being money conscious as soon as possible. Start saving up for retirement now — consider getting a 401(k), a Roth IRA or traditional IRA.

7. Research what a 401(k), Roth IRA and a traditional IRA is. Be sure to read up on other investment opportunities that can maturate your finances.

8. Budget for fun stuff. Personally, I have a MONEY FOR VACATION “saving jar”: How does it work? If I know I’ll need $2,500 to go on vacation every year, I’ll deposit $209 into the MONEY for VACATION JAR each month. By the end of the year, I’ll be all set — Turks & Caicos, here I come!

9. Don’t buy stuff you don’t need to impress people you don’t like. That’s just a waste.

10. Read books. But not just graphic novels — read books that give you insight on what you HAVEN’T learned in school.

11. Never co-sign a loan for ANYONE. If they’re evil enough, they’ll leave you to with the bill — and then you’re screwed.

12. Keep up with the news and pop culture. Not only does it keep you “in the loop,” it gives you ammo for conversation.

13. Teach yourself a new skill. YouTube is your friend. I learned how to code thanks to tutorials on the site :).

14. ALWAYS look presentable when you step out of the house. You never know when you might run into an ex. 🙂

15. Don’t rush into marriage – it will be a disaster. Take your sweet, sweet time to find “the one.”

16. Don’t be afraid of rejection; it’s a part of life. A door may have been slammed in your face now, but your courageous efforts will be later rewarded with an open window.

17. Don’t be afraid of starting new things (i.e. a new job) because you have a fear of failure. Everyone experiences a learning curve in new settings; just do your best and don’t give up.

18. Something as simple as positive thinking can completely change your life. It changes your attitude, which in turn, changes your actions – this, as a result, will bring you everything you’ve ever dreamed of.

19. Never get hung up on break-ups. There is a reason you two weren’t meant to be; the universe is doing you a favor!

20. Do not compare yourself to others. Focus on your own life chapter that you’re writing right now. Sure others might be a few chapters ahead of you, but books have many twists & turns — the other person that you’re envying might take a tumble, while you, sneaking up on them slow & steady, bypass them with grace and greatness.

21.Don’t let anyone take advantage of you. If you’re giving much more of yourself to someone than he or she is giving to you, cut your losses and remove this leech out of your life.

22. Visit an aquarium or zoo. Sea and land animals are awesome. 🙂

23. If you feel uncomfortable being yourself with your friend of significant other, walk away.

24. Always keep important phone numbers written down on a piece of paper. If your phone dies, you’ll be able to make phone calls at a public pay phone during an emergency.

**BONUS** Always keep a record of everything — this way, if someone ever tries to hoodwink you, you have all the records in place to prove them wrong. If things get out of hand, you’re all set with evidence, receipts, and proof in court.

Do you have anything else to add? No matter what your age is, I’d love to hear what you’ve learned about life so far.