5 best purchases to make in your teens and 20s

👋 Hey guys - Noah here,

If you make some smart financial decisions in your teens and 20's, like I’ve managed to do, then you can set yourself up for a whole life of freedom rather than just 10 years of fun!

💡 The Purchases That Actually Change Your Life

Most "investment" advice for young people is rubbish.

But there ARE things you can buy right now that'll completely change your trajectory. And no, it's not crypto or designer clothes.

1️⃣ A Proper Laptop/PC (Not Just Any Laptop)

What to buy: Refurbished ThinkPad or MacBook Air (£400-800)

Why it's genius:

• Learn skills that pay £50+/hour (coding, design, video editing)

• Start that side hustle without borrowing someone's computer

• Lasts 5+ years!

A first proper laptop can cost £500, but make me over £15,000 in side hustles. That's a 3,000% return. Try getting that from Bitcoin!

2️⃣ An Index Fund

What to buy: Low-cost index fund in a Stocks & Shares ISA

The maths that'll blow your mind:

• £100/month from age 20-30 = £12,000 invested

• Left until you're 60 with 7% returns = £149,000

• Start at 30 instead? Only £76,000

That decade costs you £73,000. Mental.

3️⃣ Education (The Ultimate Money Multiplier)

What to buy: Any form of education that increases your value (£50-500)

Here's the truth: Everyone gets paid based on their perceived value.

Invest in yourself and watch your earning potential explode:

• YouTube course on video editing: £150 → Charging £500 per video

• Excel certification: £100 → Promoted to data analyst role (+£8k salary)

• Copywriting course: £200 → Freelance work at £40/hour

The best part? Unlike that car you're thinking of buying, education appreciates in value. The more you learn, the more you earn. It's literally that simple.

4️⃣ The Skills Stack

What to buy: Online courses in high-demand skills (£200-500)

Forget uni debt. These skills actually pay:

• Google Ads certification: £0 (yes, free)

• Basic web design course: £50

• Excel mastery: £100

• Copywriting basics: £150

Stack 3-4 skills and you're suddenly worth £30/hour as a freelancer. My mate learned Facebook ads for £200 and now charges businesses £1,000/month to manage their accounts.

5️⃣ The Health Investment

What to buy: Quality running shoes + basic home gym setup (£200)

Sounds boring? Here's what being unhealthy costs:

• Sick days: Lost income

• Energy drinks to stay awake: £500/year

• Feeling rubbish: Missed opportunities

£200 on fitness gear now saves you thousands in health costs later. Plus, you'll have the energy to actually chase those opportunities.

🚫 What NOT to Buy

• Latest iPhone (your current one works fine)

• Car on finance (unless essential for work)

• Expensive watches/jewellery

• Anything to "flex" on Instagram

💰 The Secret Multiplier

Here's what nobody tells you: it's not about the purchases. It's about what you DO with them.

That laptop? Useless if you just watch Netflix. That course? Worthless if you don't practice. That index fund? Only works if you don't panic-sell.

The best investment is the one you actually use!

📈 Start Today, Thank Yourself Later

Your 30-year-old self will either thank you or want to shake you. The choice is yours.

Pick ONE thing from this list and start there.

Because the best time to plant a tree was 10 years ago. The second best time? Right now.

Want to know exactly where your money's going before making these investments? I use Snoop to track every penny - it's free and shows you where you're wasting cash that could be going towards these life-changing purchases. Proper eye-opening when you see how much those daily coffees actually cost.

Get Snoop for free here - knowledge is power, especially with your money.

Let me know which purchase changed your life!

All the best, Noah