I started reading the Art of Non-Conformity the other day and the idea of the life list/bucket list got me thinking again. I started thinking about my bucket list for what I want to accomplish before I turn 30 (in 7 years). Then I started to get more specific. I started thinking about what I want to accomplish financially before 30. Then I realized that my mind was all over the place.
Since every financial bucket list is unique to your own situation, I decided to outline 30 financial moves that might be of interest to your unique financial situation before you turn 30. The following are 30 financial moves that all 20-somethings should consider. The list is completely random and has something for everyone.
1. Build a strong emergency fund.
Keep a buffer in a savings account because you never know when a rainy day will hit you out of nowhere.
2. Pay off bad debt.
You can debate good debt vs bad debt, but at the end of the day you should try to kill off your credit card debt before you turn 30.
The only advice I can give to young people is to make sure your not living paycheck to paycheck. You don’t want to look back on the year and have nothing to show for it. Save money; and DON’T buy new cars. Make sure you can afford what you buy because having a large car payment for the next 5 years of your life WILL affect how you spend the next 10.
My parents started my retirement savings back when i was 19 and i thank them for that. I am doing the same for my children now.
You’d be surprised how many people dont create a will. You never know when misfortune will strike and so to have something, anything in place, to take care of the headache is always good.
A number of those points are a bit risky. I do agree with the paying off the bad debt though.
Investing into GICs and diversified investments is the best route.
Donate to Charity? Seeing as how recent discoveries show that most charities only use about 30% at most to the actual cause it seems best served to keep it for myself.
Frugal living is always the best thing one can do. It teaches the importance of saving and getting what is important for you. Life has a way of throwing curve balls and so to learn to live appropriately is the most important advice on can get.
Starting a side business is a good idea. The key being “side business”. Most businesses fail in their first two years. Without something secure you will be in a bad position.
I’ve gone through about 16 of those 30. Yay for me!
Paying off your debt should be the #1 rule. Most people i know have a lot of debt and with it you are stuck to the rock
Some good advice in there. thanks