By Olivia Rahim | November 22, 2021

For many people in their 20s, financial security before the age of 30 may seem unattainable, yet it is doable. Working toward financial security does not have to be a self-deprivation exercise, as many individuals believe. Given that financial insecurity can be a severe source of stress, achieving this aim provides some immediate benefits. 

Here are some things to think about if you want to be financially secure before you reach 30.

Keep Tabs On Your Spending

Knowing how much you spend and what helps you keep track of your spending. Mint, a free budgeting programme, can assist you with this.

You might find that ordering takeout several times a week costs more than $300 per month, or that recurring charges for streaming services and memberships you never use are a waste of your money. If you can afford to spend hundreds of dollars every month on takeout, that’s fantastic. If not, you’ve just uncovered a simple way to save money aside from cancelling those streaming services you forgot about.

Stay Within Your Financial Means

Maintain a quality of life that is less than what your money will allow. Your pay should rise as you develop in your job and get more expertise. Rather than spending the extra money on new goods or living a more luxurious lifestyle, the best course of action is to use it to pay down debt or put money into savings. If your lifestyle costs rise slower than your income, you’ll always have the extra cash flow to put toward financial objectives or an unexpected financial emergency.

Don’t Take Out A Loan to Support Your Lifestyle

Borrowed funds should only be used when the profit exceeds the cost of borrowing. Investing in yourself could mean paying for your education, starting a business, or purchasing a home. Borrowing can provide the leverage you need to achieve your financial goals faster in these situations.

When it comes to accumulating money, though, utilising credit to fund a lifestyle you can’t afford is a losing proposition. And the additional interest expense of borrowing adds to the overall cost of living.

Establish Short-Term Objectives

Many things might change between when you’re in your 20s and when you retire 40 years later, such as an economic catastrophe or the loss of a job, and a lot can change between when you’re in your 20s and when you retire 40 years later. As a result, the notion of long-term planning might be intimidating.

Define a series of tiny, measurable, and exact short-term goals instead of long-term goals, such as paying off credit card debt in a year or contributing to a retirement plan with a set monthly amount. If you create goals, you’ll have a higher chance of fulfilling them than if you just say you want to pay off your debt but don’t have a plan in place. Even the act of putting down certain objectives can assist you in achieving them.

Set new short-term goals when you achieve your current ones. Setting and completing short-term goals regularly will help you achieve longer-term goals, such as having a substantial nest fund when you retire.

Improve Your Financial Literacy

It’s one thing to make money, but it’s quite another to save it and expand it. Financial planning and investment are lifetime pursuits. Putting in the time and effort to learn about personal finance and investing will pay dividends for the rest of your life. It’s critical to make solid financial and investing decisions if you want to reach your financial objectives.

Put Aside As Much Money As You Can For Retirement

Retirement may seem a lifetime away when you’re in your twenties, and planning for it may be the last thing on your mind. Compounding will work to your advantage if you can take a few actions now to start saving. Even a tiny sum saved early in life can have a significant impact on your future. The longer you wait to start saving for retirement, the more difficult it becomes.

If you have access to one, set up automatic monthly contributions to a retirement plan, such as an employer-sponsored 401(k) or an IRA if you don’t. When your income rises or you reach more of your short-term goals, you can increase your contributions.

You won’t have to worry about how much you’re contributing if you follow the pay yourself first principle. The most important thing is to establish a saving habit.

Don’t Let Money Slip Through Your Fingers

If you work for a company that offers a Superannuation, be sure you contribute at least as much as your employer will match; otherwise, you’ll be wasting money. You can also deduct your contributions in the year that you make them, lowering your taxable income for the year. If you don’t work for a company that offers a Superannuation, you can still save money by contributing to a traditional IRA, which allows you to deduct payments.

Take Reasonable Risks

In the long run, taking measured chances when you’re young can be a wise option. You’ll make mistakes along the way, but you’ll have more time to rehabilitate when you’re young.

The following are some examples of calculated risks:

• Relocating to a new city with additional career chances is a good idea.
• Returning to school for more education
• Taking a lower-paying position with more upside potential at a different firm
• Investing in stocks with a high risk/high reward ratio

Some people may take on greater responsibilities as they get older, such as paying off a mortgage or preparing for a child’s education. When you have fewer responsibilities, it’s easier to take risks.

Make An Investment In Yourself

Consider yourself a valuable financial asset. Putting money into yourself will pay dividends in the long run. Your most valuable assets are your talents, expertise, and experience. Increase your value by improving your skills and knowledge regularly and making wise career decisions.

Though going to college or a trade school is frequently the first step, keeping your skills up to date and learning new ones that are in great demand can help you become a more appealing and well-paid member of the workforce. Investing in oneself is something that should be done throughout your life.

You should also think about investing some time into protecting yourself for the future by arranging house insurance, life insurance, and looking at car accident lawyers. 

Strike The Right Strike

It’s also crucial to strike a proper balance between your current life and your plans. We can’t live as if this is our final day financially. We must choose between what we spend now and what we will spend in the future. Set a short-term goal, for example, to save for a trip to a destination you’ve always wanted to visit rather than paying for it with a credit card. Finding the right balance is a crucial part of obtaining financial stability.