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You know, sometimes I feel like life is one giant decision-making tree, with so many branches that you end up somewhere that you never imagined.

(Although in my case the place I’ve ended up is excellent!)

But it makes me wonder, how many of us are doing things the way we’d thought we would? Are you still on Plan A?

Are your finances in the shape you thought they would be? Have you been as responsible with money as you would have liked? Or maybe things are even better money-wise than you’d ever imagined.

What did you envision growing up, and how does it compare to where you are now? Is there some advice you would have liked to have given your former self?

Me, I think I’m on plan R or something by now.

I never really thought that much about the future as a young adult. I was always too focused on the immediate; on things like these:

• Am I going to have enough money to pay my bills?
• Does my checkbook balance?
• Can I get a raise?
• When is that math test again, and how will I find time to study?
• Do I have enough money for a pop?

Whenever I thought about the future, it was in very vague terms. I just could not picture it for some reason. Because of that, it didn’t seem real, so I didn’t worry much about it.

Over the past 5-15 years though, the future has become a little clearer. Well, I take that back. I still can’t really picture it in great detail, but I do at least have goals that I’m aiming for. I know where I want to be, and I’m taking steps to get there.

Steps that go beyond the immediate.

So if I could give my younger self some advice, it would be to think about very long-term goals a little more.

Yes, the immediate is important. After all, the present is where we live. But the future is important as well, and it’s better to think about it a little and work it into your life now too.