21 THINGS I WISH I'D KNOWN BEFORE HITTING MY TWENTIES

This year I'll be turning 28, which is quite honestly a scary prospect for me. Two minutes ago I was just 18, loving life at art college, drinking too much most weekends and unsuccessfully applying false tan. Where have the last ten years gone?! I've so much to look forward to in the next couple of years, which is daunting, because time flies when you're having fun, right? Oh to be that naive, slim 18 year old again, with the crazy fast metabolism, huge friendship group and zero money worries! Here's a list of things that I wish someone had told me (or advice I wish I'd taken notice of) back in the good old (eurgh) days!

Eating Dominos on a Friday night, McDonalds on a Saturday and KFC on Sundays every week (guilty) will catch up on you sooner or later, so exercise or you can kiss that washboard stomach goodbye.
Your degree is not the be all and end all of life, so stop worrying about the grades and enjoy the fact your studying such a fun subject!
Save your money instead of buying that godawful puffball dress. You'll be thankful later.
Not everyone is as nice as you think they are, and not everyone is your friend!
Speak up if you don't agree with something or you can see something isn't right. It will save you, and probably others, a lot of embarrassment and hassle in the long run.
Mint green is not your colour.
Do not expect anything good to come from wearing black stirrup leggings with tan sandals. (Trust me, I have photos and it is not pretty)
It's more than likely that only a handful of your friendship group will stick around for the long haul.
Don't spend your student loan on shit. You do not need to redecorate your room/ buy a dog / get an expensive computer / splurge on ASOS. (Clue: I did all of those)
Don't waste your life away working in a place you aren't happy. If your talents would be put to better use elsewhere, then take the plunge!
Curious by Britney Spears is definitely not your 'signature scent'. Everyone and their dog is wearing it.
Short and 'spiky' layers will not make you look cool (read: mullet)
There's a reason why Coco Chanel once said "before leaving the house, a lady should look in the mirror and remove one accessory." Take note before adding another set of beads (again, I have photos).
Stop plucking your eyebrows!!!
Lips the same colour as your skin. Just no. Seriously.
Your skin is probably going to be more sensitive and problematic than it was in your teens, and you'll go through all the lotions and potions in the world until you find something that helps calm it the hell down.
You'll make some of the best friends of your life in these years and suddenly those "friendships" you spent so many years stressing about in your teens just won't matter any more.
Put small amounts of money in a savings account each week/month. As boring and grown up as it sounds, it will make all the difference when something big comes along in the future that costs a hell of a lot more than you thought (hello, wedding planning!).
You're going to be an occasional emotional wreck for no apparent reason (but mostly beacuse of cute dog videos) and cry so much you start judging yourself, but it will pass... for a few weeks at least.
Don't take out a store card. They are the spawn of satan and you could end up paying off bills for years.
Say yes to those amazing opportunities rather than spending days sat on the sofa watching back to back episodes of Friends whilst eating your bodyweight in junk.
Stop waiting for your life to start! Your twenties will fly by in the blink of an eye, so enjoy them and make some amazing memories that you'll never forget!