This was a link an acquaintance of mine posted online. It may be the best little pieces of advice I've heard in awhile...
If you have some time, read it. If not, I'll try to paraphrase here....
Basically, someone not quite to their 30s yet asked for those past their 30s to give advice to those of us who aren't there yet or will be there soon. This peeked my interest. I wanted to know what the more experienced, older folks had to say about the decade I'm quickly approaching.
One thing EVERY person who gave advice talked about was money and finances. Basically saying you aren't in your 20s anymore, you can't afford to be ignorant about saving for retirement or emergencies. You need to be well versed in mortgages, 401(k)s, IRAs, and even investing. It's all on your shoulders now, so step up! Retirement and emergency funds are pretty important because those will both happen (probably sooner than you think) whether you like it or not. Start planning now.
I'm proud to say this is something my husband and I take pretty seriously and have since before we got married. Since we married young and pretty much always had a steady paycheck (thanks, USAF!), we've been able to balance a comfortable budget, save for these important things (or start to at least, long ways to go still!), and for the most part stay out of unnecessary debt. Once we pay off my husbands car (hopefully by the end of the year), we only have the mortgage left and we don't intend to keep it anyway. Thanks to Dave Ramsey's financial peace, my husband and I have NEVER fought over money and we don't intend to.
Another thing that struck me was hearing all these more experienced people talk about staying healthy. Take care of yourself, they said. The time when your body starts to become weaker and less adept at trying new things will come and you'll wish you'd kept yourself in better shape and eaten better.
This one is a more recent item that has moved up on our priority list. I am currently working out in a new gym and I love it. Love my workouts, love the people, and LOVE LOVE LOVE the fact that they have really good child care. Throw in the fact that I feel happy, healthy, strong and like I'm doing my body a favor for my later years in life. I have never liked athletics or working out until the last couple years. Now working out regularly and grocery shopping/cooking with a healthful purpose is a key element to our daily routine in our home. It's great to feel like we can work together to make sure each of us is able to do what we need to to take good care of ourselves. It's all about teamwork!
They definitely touched on family as well. Whether it was spending more time with your parents, who are also growing older fast, or investing time within your own family (i.e. your spouse and/or children). Your family is a unique and special thing. A group that will be there for you when friends can't or won't, and will help you during hard times like no one else can.
My family and I sure as hell haven't always gotten along. On the contrary, we rarely get along or agree on issues. But you better believe that come hell or high water that they would do anything for me, my husband, ESPECIALLY my daughter. It's a hard lesson to learn (it was for me anyway), but as I've seen people come and go from our lives, my family has been a constant. Luckily for me, my husband's family was no different. It's such a blessing to feel that solidarity on both sides and know these people love us and have our backs no matter what.
As part of the family segment of the article, they talked about either side of the getting married and/or having kids aspect of life. Some people said "don't wait forever for that person of perfection, no one's perfect and you will wind up alone" and some people said "don't crack under that pressure to get married or have kids". Someone even said "don't wait to have kids, there will never be a right time, and I wish I hadn't put it off".
Those are all fair pieces of advice to me. They will apply differently to different people. I think the best part about reaching this well earned decade of 30 is that you know yourself better than you ever have in your entire life. You (hopefully) know what you want in life and you are either on your way to getting it, or you are already enjoying it. I don't know why, but I truly feel like my 30s will be the best decade ever. The more time passes, the better I know myself. I know what makes me happy, I know what I want in life, and more importantly, what I DON'T want in my life.
I may still be two years away from this first "hill" I'm climbing, but I'm pretty excited about the trail we are blazing over it, and who I'm climbing it with.
Basically, someone not quite to their 30s yet asked for those past their 30s to give advice to those of us who aren't there yet or will be there soon. This peeked my interest. I wanted to know what the more experienced, older folks had to say about the decade I'm quickly approaching.
One thing EVERY person who gave advice talked about was money and finances. Basically saying you aren't in your 20s anymore, you can't afford to be ignorant about saving for retirement or emergencies. You need to be well versed in mortgages, 401(k)s, IRAs, and even investing. It's all on your shoulders now, so step up! Retirement and emergency funds are pretty important because those will both happen (probably sooner than you think) whether you like it or not. Start planning now.
I'm proud to say this is something my husband and I take pretty seriously and have since before we got married. Since we married young and pretty much always had a steady paycheck (thanks, USAF!), we've been able to balance a comfortable budget, save for these important things (or start to at least, long ways to go still!), and for the most part stay out of unnecessary debt. Once we pay off my husbands car (hopefully by the end of the year), we only have the mortgage left and we don't intend to keep it anyway. Thanks to Dave Ramsey's financial peace, my husband and I have NEVER fought over money and we don't intend to.
Another thing that struck me was hearing all these more experienced people talk about staying healthy. Take care of yourself, they said. The time when your body starts to become weaker and less adept at trying new things will come and you'll wish you'd kept yourself in better shape and eaten better.
This one is a more recent item that has moved up on our priority list. I am currently working out in a new gym and I love it. Love my workouts, love the people, and LOVE LOVE LOVE the fact that they have really good child care. Throw in the fact that I feel happy, healthy, strong and like I'm doing my body a favor for my later years in life. I have never liked athletics or working out until the last couple years. Now working out regularly and grocery shopping/cooking with a healthful purpose is a key element to our daily routine in our home. It's great to feel like we can work together to make sure each of us is able to do what we need to to take good care of ourselves. It's all about teamwork!
They definitely touched on family as well. Whether it was spending more time with your parents, who are also growing older fast, or investing time within your own family (i.e. your spouse and/or children). Your family is a unique and special thing. A group that will be there for you when friends can't or won't, and will help you during hard times like no one else can.
My family and I sure as hell haven't always gotten along. On the contrary, we rarely get along or agree on issues. But you better believe that come hell or high water that they would do anything for me, my husband, ESPECIALLY my daughter. It's a hard lesson to learn (it was for me anyway), but as I've seen people come and go from our lives, my family has been a constant. Luckily for me, my husband's family was no different. It's such a blessing to feel that solidarity on both sides and know these people love us and have our backs no matter what.
As part of the family segment of the article, they talked about either side of the getting married and/or having kids aspect of life. Some people said "don't wait forever for that person of perfection, no one's perfect and you will wind up alone" and some people said "don't crack under that pressure to get married or have kids". Someone even said "don't wait to have kids, there will never be a right time, and I wish I hadn't put it off".
Those are all fair pieces of advice to me. They will apply differently to different people. I think the best part about reaching this well earned decade of 30 is that you know yourself better than you ever have in your entire life. You (hopefully) know what you want in life and you are either on your way to getting it, or you are already enjoying it. I don't know why, but I truly feel like my 30s will be the best decade ever. The more time passes, the better I know myself. I know what makes me happy, I know what I want in life, and more importantly, what I DON'T want in my life.
I may still be two years away from this first "hill" I'm climbing, but I'm pretty excited about the trail we are blazing over it, and who I'm climbing it with.
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