Harper, 31, is a freelance designer with a lifestyle defined by freedom and uncertainty. She loves to travel, owns a beloved dog, an expensive camera setup, and a financial plan that always starts "next year." But a friend's sudden car accident made her realise something: the world doesn't play nice with the unexpected. That experience led her to a bigger question for someone like me, without a traditional job or a steady paycheck, how do I build a safety net? 

This question isn't unfamiliar to many millennials. We're a generation facing pivotal life moments student loans, launching businesses, getting married, having children, or buying a first home. On the surface, we look like "the free generation," but underneath, we're shouldering tremendous financial pressure. Studies show millennials are among the most underinsured groups, despite insurance being one of the most powerful tools for long-term stability.

At first, Harper was resistant to anything involving "insurance." It sounded like a maze of confusing terms, expensive monthly premiums, and empty promises she'd never use. But once she sat down and started learning, she realised some policies cost less than her three monthly streaming subscriptions. And some coverage areas were

things she hadn't even considered. For example, ber $5,000 camera, gear wouldn't be

fully covered under a typical renters’ policy if stolen or damaged. And she never thought about life insurance— until it hit her that if something happened to her, someone would still have to pay off the remaining half of her student loan.

Insurance isn't just about "someone paying out if something bad happens"—it's an adult decision about how smartly you prepare for an unpredictable future. The real question isn't "Should I buy insurance?" It's "How do I buy insurance that fits?" For late starters like Harper, who have limited budgets, smart planning matters even more.

She learned that the best insurance isn't necessarily the cheapest—it's the policy that matches her lifestyle and financial picture. You may never use some coverage, but if you ever need it, it could be the lifeline that pulls you out of disaster. 

She started asking insurance agents the right questions: Was there coverage for student loans? Would her centre’s policy cover pet bite liability? Could she bundle auto, renters, and liability insurance for a discount? The answers led to an unexpectedly affordable mix. She even took out a small life insurance policy with long-term disability coverage, not for anyone else, just for herself. So that if she ever fell seriously ill or got injured, she wouldn't have to rely on crowdfunding platforms just to stay afloat.

These changes didn't make Harper rich overnight, but they gave her something more valuable: a sense of control and peace of mind. As she put it, "For the first time, I don't feel like I'm surviving on luck—I feel like I'm fighting for the right to choose my future."

So don't let dense insurance contracts scare you off. And don't assume insurance is something only people over 50 need to worry about. For millennials, insurance is more like a rite of passage into adulthood, not a promise that the world will treat you kindly, but a way to stand tall when it doesn’t. Every policy you sign with intention is a quiet promise to your future self. And the earlier you make that promise, the more valuable and reassuring it becomes.