Most teens don’t think about spending in terms of assets and liabilities.
They’re not asking, “Is this putting money in my pocket or taking it out?”
They just spend.
I did the same until one purchase forced me to see the difference.
The $1,000 Lesson
I bought the biggest, loudest Bluetooth speaker I could find for over $1,000.
At the time, it felt worth it.
Its neon lights and deep bass were cool.
It entertained my friends, turning average nights into something memorable.
And I got credit for creating the experience.
For the first week or two, I thought it was one of the best things I’d ever bought.
But that changed.
Being the one responsible for the fun became stressful. People expected me to host. They wanted to borrow my speaker. It even caused small disagreements.
So, I stopped using it.
It just sat there.
And it definitely wasn’t worth what I paid anymore.
That’s when it hit me.
I didn’t have money. Money had me.
I bought something because it felt good in the moment, not because it had long-term value.
That speaker wasn’t just a purchase.
It was a liability.
The First Time Money Worked for Me
Around the same time, I started investing.
One of the first stocks I bought was Shopify.
I bought it at $25. Within a year, it went to $50.
I didn't work more hours.
I didn't do anything physically harder.
The money just grew.
Later, I invested in crypto and saw the same idea play out again.
That’s when something clicked.
Some things cost money and time but give you nothing in return.
Those are liabilities.
Other things cost money and time but produce value or grow over time.
Those are assets.
The Most Underrated Asset I Own
It's not a stock.
It's not crypto.
It’s a wheelbarrow my grandmother gave me.
I’ve used it to haul thousands of pounds of brush, weeds, and debris. It makes my work faster, easier, and more efficient. And it’s helped me earn far more than it cost.
It’s paid for itself many times over.
That's an asset.
Not because it’s exciting, but because it produces value.
The Asset No One Talks About
Books.
Most people don’t think of books as assets, but they are.
As Robert Kiyosaki says, your mind is your most valuable asset.
Everything I’ve learned from books about money, behavior, discipline, and thinking compounds over time.
One idea can change how you make decisions for years.
That’s a return.
Where Most Teens Go Wrong
It’s not that teens think clothes or food are assets.
They just don’t think about it at all.
Money comes in. Money goes out.
No awareness. No intention.
And I’m not saying don’t spend money.
But there’s a difference between spending consciously and spending without thinking.
Every dollar is a decision.
Most people just never realize it.
Find Your Own Asset
I’m not trying to make yardwork my career.
What I want is to own real estate, specifically commercial retail property.
Real estate doesn’t just give you one benefit.
There's cash flow, appreciation, depreciation, and amortization.
But there’s also something bigger.
You're creating spaces where people gather.
You’re not just earning—you’re building.
That’s the shift I’m focused on.
That’s why I’m learning now, working with my dad, and even doing things for free.
When It All Clicked
It wasn’t one moment. It was everything combined.
Buying the speaker.
Investing.
Doing yardwork.
Reading and learning.
All of it pointed to the same idea.
Some things move you forward.
Some things keep you stuck.
Assets move you forward.
Liabilities hold you in place.
Final Thought
A lot of people say their house is an asset.
Sometimes it is. Sometimes it isn’t.
If something is constantly taking money out of your pocket, it’s worth questioning where it fits in your life.
Most people never think that way.
But once you see it, you can’t unsee it.
And that’s when everything starts to change.
