6 Life Tips to Learn before Turning 20

The best advice comes from the regrets of those who came before us; recently, we interviewed one such person. Ron Hook, 28, is a technician living in Texas with his wife, Skye, a general manager at a local Starbucks. Together, they have paid off their $200k house and live debt-free. In the interview, we asked Ron what he wished he knew at 18.

Live With Your Parents

One of the first items on the agenda of college kids is to leave their parent's house, but Ron has a different perspective: "It was really beneficial for me to stay with my parents for as long as possible; I saved up money and built a career." You will need to leave the nest eventually, but it is wise to wait until you can afford it; if you don't, you will be playing catch-up with your bills.

Own a Credit Card

"Credit cards are the safest ways to spend money," Ron said, "If you carry cash, you can get robbed; if you carry a debit card, people can steal your number." He believes that since credit cards hold the bank's money and not yours, it's the best form of currency; that is if you pay your credit card bills early. "It all just depends on your willpower," Skye added, with the couple emphasizing the importance of spending only the money you have.

Read Books

Both Ron and Skye were passionate about reading books, with Skye saying: "Self-educate youself, don't rely on a teacher to teach you everything." Reading non-fiction books about topics you want to see improvement in is a great first step to seeing growth in your life. If a classmate has finished their textbook, ask them if you can borrow it for the week; you might get some free education. After all, some college classes are simply structured book reading.

College is an Investment

In his earlier life, Ron saw college as an unnecessary expense. He now has a different perspective: "College is one of the best investments you can make financially, even if you pay the full tuition." When comparing the price of college tuition to the money you will make from a career with a degree, Ron does not regret the decision to go to college.

Take a strength assessment

Recently, Ron took a strength assessment, a questionnaire that helps find what you are good at. He told us that it would've helped him to know his strengths earlier in life: "Out of high school, I took a career path that didn't use my strengths. If I knew at a younger age ... it would have been much easier to find a career."

College can be free

"You can get college paid for one hundred percent by picking the right employer ... my company pays for school one hundred percent." Ron went on to say that some companies now bundle college with other packages, such as a 401k and dental. By seeing the job listing online, you can find what packages the job includes.

Fresh out of high school, Ron didn't know these tips, but you now have the opportunity to use them at the age he wishes he had.