Our advice to a younger generation—is it worth a zac?

“Each generation imagines itself to be more intelligent than the one that went before it, and wiser than the one that comes after it.” - George Orwell

Advising your kids is one thing and sometimes a thankless task, but giving it to a whole generation - we’ll stand back and take care.

However, George Orwell's wise words ‘notwithstanding’, is there any advice we can give those younger than us for no other reason than we might be more experienced?

Some may argue the world has changed just too much even to bother. The internet and digital age mean the more important advice is just as likely to come from them to us and not vice versa.

Others might venture that true wisdom is timeless, and the ancient Greeks and Romans have plenty of insights into how to live a better life.

Wherever you stand, I'm interested in seeing what advice we over fifties might like to hand out over the next few weeks in specific areas.

The idea is to help, not hinder or harass. If you can manage to share some words with generosity and a good heart, all the better.

“Genius has no youth, but starts with the ripeness of age and old experience.” - Mark Twain

The areas might include: money, getting married, buying a house, raising children, working, taking holidays, and buying a car. You may have some other areas to suggest.

We might not know it all, but perhaps we do have something handy to share.

Money is a natural starting point as throughout life, most people get or keep more money than the young.

There's also no shortage of advice about folding stuff for young people. 

They even have their own 'finfluencers' online bloggers etc., who give plenty of free advice on cryptocurrencies etc

The trouble is some old-fashioned advice, 'Take care of the pennies, and the pounds will take care of themselves,' is as outdated as it is pretty useless.

Being frugal is not without its benefits, but refraining from excessive spending or smashed avocado is not by itself going to solve young people's money woes.

My advice to my sons is simple: Value your money in ways that are sustainable but which also bring you happiness and security. 

That's to say, do not spend like a drunken sailor but find a level of spending that accords with your income and savings goals.

It might sound a bit old school, but the very best advice on money and happiness ever came from Charles Dickens in 1849:

"Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen six, result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pounds ought and six, result misery."

Can you beat that?


Any information contained in this communication is general advice, it does not take into account your individual circumstances, objectives, financial situation or needs.