Live well for the next three years, and remember these important tips:

1. Eat less of the dumplings, wontons, and meatballs outside.
2. Try to buy groceries and cook at home.
3. If your monthly salary is less than ten thousand, don’t buy a car.
4. Don’t start a business unless you are absolutely sure.
5. No need to split bills evenly for dinners or classmates’ gatherings.
Have you noticed? In the coming years, life might not be so easy. Someone has given some advice—sounds a bit “stingy,” but it’s the experience of someone who’s been there. If you can remember these well, maybe you can live steadily and safely.
First, eat less of the dumplings, wontons, and meatballs outside. Not to say don’t eat at all, but eat less outside. You never know what’s mixed into that meat filling. It could be lymph meat, expired meat, or various additives. Saving a few bucks and ending up with a stomach ache, then spending more on medical bills—it's not worth it. Making your own at home is clean, safe, and cheap.
Second, try to buy groceries and cook at home. Takeout is convenient, but do you know how much damage those oils, seasonings, and disposable containers do to your health? Cooking yourself, even just boiling a bowl of noodles, allows you to control the oil and salt, and ensures hygiene. Plus, cooking is a form of relaxation. You save money and nurture yourself.
Third, if your monthly salary is less than ten thousand, don’t buy a car. Cars are consumables that depreciate once they hit the road. If you earn only a few thousand a month and take out a loan to buy a car, you’ll spend on fuel, insurance, maintenance, and parking—money out of your pocket. Can you afford to drive and maintain it? For the sake of face, taking on debt and living frugally every day— is it worth it? Better to ride an electric bike or take public transportation, save the money, and feel more at ease.
Fourth, don’t start a business unless you are absolutely confident. Many people see others being successful as bosses and get tempted. But do you see the risks behind their success? Business failure can wipe out your savings or even leave you in debt. As an ordinary person, can you afford to lose? It’s better to stabilize your job first, accumulate experience, funds, and connections. When the time is right, then consider starting up.
Fifth, there’s no need to join dinners or classmates’ gatherings that split bills evenly. These gatherings are not about the food, but about social connections. If you go, you’ll have to listen to bragging, read people’s faces, and spend money on a meal that might not even be hygienic. You think it’s about building relationships, but it’s really just a lonely celebration for a group of people. True friends don’t need to rely on dinners to stay connected. Save that money and buy some fruit for your family—doesn’t that feel better?