Money is one of those things that you think will solve everything right up until the point where you have a bit of it. And then, for some reason, it gets complicated. Or we get complicated. Or both.

When I was broke—and I mean couch-coin broke, the kind of broke where finding a forgotten $5 in your winter coat feels like Christmas—I assumed that money was the missing puzzle piece. Everything would be easier with it. Decisions would make more sense. I’d be cooler, calmer, mysteriously well-moisturized. Life would just, you know, click.

Spoiler: it didn’t.

Having money didn’t make me any better at using it. I still bought dumb things. I still forgot about bills. I still had emotional breakdowns over tax forms. And somehow, I still never felt like I had enough. Which is weird, because technically I had more than I ever did before. So. What gives?

If I could go back and whisper a few things to my utterly broke past self (preferably while gently removing the Pizza Bagels from the shopping cart), here’s what I’d say.

1. Money doesn’t change who you are. It just turns the volume up.

If you’re generous when you’re broke, you’ll still give money away when you have it. If you’re impulsive? Well, now you’ll just impulse-buy things that arrive in a box with a lithium battery warning. Money makes habits louder.

So, if you’re hoping that getting more money will fix your scattered brain or your terrible Amazon problem, sorry. It won’t. Better to work on that stuff when you’ve got $27 to your name. It’ll pay off later.

2. You don’t need to be smart. You need to be consistent.

I used to think managing money was for spreadsheet people. Like, the kind who color-code their sock drawers. But it turns out, most of financial wellness is pretty boring. And being boring is the point.

Save some. Don’t spend more than you make. Invest in broad, simple things. Do it every month. That’s the whole game.

I don’t care how many fancy books you read or TikToks you watch. If you just do the boring stuff again and again, you will win.

3. Expensive doesn’t mean better. It just means expensive.

Back when I couldn’t afford anything, I assumed that the $80 face cream or the $400 coat must be objectively better than the drugstore version. Now I’ve tried both, and—surprise—they’re usually not.

Sometimes the pricier thing is better quality. But a lot of the time, it’s just got better branding. Which is fine if you’re into that. But don’t let a price tag psych you out. Sometimes the $12 bottle of wine really does taste better.

4. You don’t need to earn more. You need to want less.

This one still stings. Because I really, really thought I’d be happier when I made more. And to be fair, I am slightly less stressed. But I also somehow raised the bar at the same time. Got a raise? Cool, now I want a nicer apartment. Got the nicer apartment? Well, obviously I need a new couch.

It’s endless. Unless you decide not to play. Contentment is a skill. You can learn it. You kind of have to.

5. Nobody actually knows what they’re doing.

Money is one of those things people get weirdly private and showy about. They’ll talk a big game, like they’ve got a system or a plan or a second brain for managing all this. But secretly, a lot of people are winging it. Even the ones with nice shoes.

So don’t get too wrapped up in what looks like success. You have no idea if that person you envy is drowning in debt or fighting with their partner about credit card statements. Keep your eyes on your own paper.

6. It’s not about being rich. It’s about feeling safe.

Turns out, financial wellness isn’t about yachts or passive income or whatever Instagram’s selling this week. It’s about sleeping well. It’s about opening a bill without your stomach flipping. It’s about knowing that if your car dies, you’re not totally screwed.

And the weird thing? That kind of wellness doesn’t actually cost all that much. A few hundred bucks in savings can give you more peace of mind than a fancy salary with nothing in the bank.

Funny, isn’t it?

If you’re broke now, I see you. It sucks. No sugar-coating that. But it won’t suck forever. And when things get better—and they will—it’s good to know what actually makes the ride smoother.

Having more money is nice, sure. But really getting how money works? That’s what changes things.