I Never Do These 14 Things, And Thats Why I Was Able To Retire At 42.
I like to keep things simple. Making money is complicated only if you decide to make it that way. Most people get caught up in trends, take bad advice, and waste time on things that don’t actually build wealth.
I’m a Chartered Financial Analyst, and I retired young because I focused on what actually works. I didn’t chase hype or gamble on risky investments. I stuck to strategies that made sense, ignored the noise, and bought my time back.
If you want to reach financial independence, you need to start cutting out the noise. Stop doing things that keep you broke, stressed, and stuck working forever. Wealth isn’t just about what you do, it’s also about what you avoid.
Here are the things I don’t do, and you probably shouldn’t either.
Table of Contents
Options
A lot of people think they’re the golden ticket. They’re not. Options are an overly complicated way to invest or speculate. I like reading about complex investments, but I don’t like putting my money into complicated things.
I understand them too, I’m a CFA and I’ve held more securities licenses than most financial advisors. I don’t trade them. The risks aren’t worth the reward.
People think they can outsmart the market, but most options traders are just making expensive bets they don’t fully understand.
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Crypto
I don’t speculate. I’m not anti-crypto, but I’m anti-hype. Crypto is backed by hype and hope, not cash flow and assets. That’s not investing.
I’ve seen it all before, the next big thing that everyone swears is going to change the world. Maybe it will. Maybe it won’t. I don’t care. The moment something requires blind faith instead of fundamentals, I’m out.
If crypto stabilizes, becomes regulated, and proves it has actual long-term value, then maybe. But right now? No thanks.
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Day trading
I’m a Chartered Financial Analyst, and I wouldn’t touch day trading. If I thought it was a real path to wealth, I’d be doing it. I know the numbers.
Most day traders lose money. It’s not because they’re dumb, it’s because they’re playing against billion-dollar firms with better tech, faster execution, and teams of PhDs. You know what? Those firms are often doing it with other people’s money.
The market isn’t a casino where you can outplay the house. The house wins. Long-term investing works. Day trading is just a fast way to burn through your cash.
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Gambling
It’s the same as day trading, just with even worse odds. I don’t gamble. Not at casinos, not with lottery tickets, not on sports. I worked in financial services long enough to know that people think they can beat the system. They can’t.
Every dollar I’ve ever “risked” was on an investment that had a real, proven return. Throwing money at games designed to make you lose? That’s not my idea of a good time.
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30-Year Mortgages
I know people love them. I don’t. A 30-year mortgage costs over 120% more in interest than a 15-year. That’s an absurd amount of extra money to hand to the bank. In most cases, people should take out a 15-year mortgage.
You pay it off faster, build equity quicker, and don’t spend decades in debt. People say they can’t afford the higher payments. The truth is, they’re buying more house than they should.
A smaller house with a 15-year loan will get you further than a big house that keeps you tied to debt for most of your life.
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20% Down Payments
People think they have to put 20% down on a house. They don’t. I’ve bought houses with no money down. 20% down is to protect the lender, not you. Banks want to make sure they get paid even if you default.
That’s not your problem. There are smarter ways to use your cash than locking up a huge chunk of it in a down payment.
If you know how to structure your deals, you can get into real estate without draining your savings.
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Avoid PMI
I don’t avoid PMI. Private Mortgage Insurance is something lenders require if you don’t put 20% down, and most people treat it like a financial death sentence. It’s not. PMI actually goes away pretty quickly, especially if you have a 15-year mortgage, which I recommend anyway.
People worry about paying an extra couple hundred a month in PMI for a couple years but don’t think twice about signing up for a mortgage that will cost them hundreds of thousands in extra interest. That math doesn’t make sense.
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I Don’t Listen to Stock Advice
Everyone has an opinion on stocks. Most of them are wrong. If you’re getting your stock picks from social media, TV analysts, Twitter, or that one friend who “knows a guy,” you’re probably making bad investments.
The best strategy? Ignore the noise and stick to what works. Buy solid companies. Invest for the long term. Don’t let someone else’s bad advice dictate your portfolio.
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Spend Money on Things That Don’t Make Me Happy
I don’t spend money on things that don’t make me happy. I can afford a lot of Teslas. I don’t own one. Not because I don’t like them, but because a $50,000 car wouldn’t make me $50,000 happier.
People overspend on things that don’t improve their lives. That’s how they stay broke. I spend on things that bring real value: experiences, freedom, time with my family. Not gadgets that lose half their value the second they leave the lot.
Social Media (Until After I Retired)
I never got on social media until after I retired. I was too busy building wealth. While everyone else was scrolling, arguing, and trying to impress strangers, I was stacking investments and making sure I’d never have to work again.
People have this backward, they waste time now and hope they’ll have freedom later. It should be the other way around. Focus on getting rich first, then worry about likes and followers.
That said, if you want to ignore this advice, then follow me on YouTube and Twitter now.
Roth IRAs
There’s a lot of bad advice out there that Roth IRAs are the best option for everyone. They aren’t. The reality is, when you retire, you’re often in a lower tax bracket.
Why prepay taxes at a high rate when you can pay less later? Roth IRAs are overhyped. They’re not some financial hack that makes you rich.
Traditional retirement accounts make more sense for most people, but financial gurus don’t talk about that because it’s not a catchy headline.
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DoorDash
Paying extra to have overpriced restaurant food delivered? No thanks. It’s not just the delivery fee, it’s the inflated menu prices, the tipping, and the lazy spending habit it creates.
Cooking at home is cheaper, healthier, and doesn’t come with a service fee. If grabbing takeout is necessary, driving a few minutes isn’t the end of the world.
People claim they don’t have enough money to invest, then spend thousands a year on food delivery. The math doesn’t add up.
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I Don’t Waste Food
Throwing away food is like throwing away money. It’s not just about saving a few bucks, it’s about mindset. People overspend on groceries, let things rot in their fridge, and then complain about rising costs.
If you want to be smart with money, start with the basics. Don’t let what you already paid for go straight into the trash. Wealth isn’t just about making money, it’s about keeping it.
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Complain About Housing Prices
People love to say houses are too expensive. They said that when I was buying houses, too. Interest rates were 7-9% when I was making $25K a year.
If I had listened to everyone saying it was impossible, I wouldn’t have bought it. And if I hadn’t bought, I wouldn’t have retired early. The truth is, people will always find reasons not to act.
The ones who ignore the noise and make smart moves win in the long run.
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Stop Doing What Holds You Back
Wealth isn’t just about making the right moves, it’s about cutting out the nonsense. People love overcomplicating money, chasing hype, and following bad advice.
I’ve built my financial success on ignoring the noise and sticking to what actually works. Smart investing, disciplined spending, and avoiding financial traps make all the difference. Most people focus on trying to make more money when they should be focusing on keeping more of it.
Cut out the mistakes, and you’ll be way ahead.
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