I’m way past my prime. You can easily tell that upon seeing my picture below. Don’t get me wrong: I’m not trying to plead for sympathy here. My 50s life has been wonderful, but my 30-year-old self can surely jot down some realizations.
Growing old is mentally rough. Besides having extra pounds on the belly, there are hard pills to swallow.
What exactly are those?
It’s regretting stupid life decisions and failing to invest. Those bad decisions are irrevocable, but had you invest in your 30s, you’d have enough cushions to alleviate regret.
Investments are not limited to insurance plans in Berkshire Hathaway or the American International Group. It extends beyond finances. Other investment fields involve emotion and network. The rationale? Investing in your 30s should be holistic.
Here’s some counseling:

1. Predetermine savings and make a working budget out of your pay.
“I’ll spend my paycheck and see how much will be left.”
Wrong. Chances are you already spent majority of it after the first few days.
Change that mindset. Put a premium on savings. These savings will enable you to enjoy passive and safe forms of income (particularly low-risk bonds), so you’ll be able to diversify income sources.
Here’s the wrong formula:
Savings = Income – Expenses
And this is how it should be:
Budget = Income – Savings
Immediately deduct a portion of your total monthly income WHEN YOU RECEIVE IT. The amount or percentage always depends on your investment goal. This goal, of course, would depend on your investment preference.
There are extravagant things in life that we really don’t need, but spend on. Loosen your grip of those things, and you’ll be able to give more for your future.

2.Put financial decisions to the test
Decisions are considered dumb when you make it hasty. Generate a scientific approach. It involves observing trends in the market, and capitalizing on time differences.
First off, shy away from purchasing things that are obsolete. You’d be surprised how your iPhone 6s or Galaxy S7 Edge sells at a bargain some years from now.
Before you make a substantial purchase, ask yourself this: “Could I forego this purchase for a while?”
If you’re planning to buy property in installments but uncertain of your paying capacity, take a stringent test to know if you’re really ready.

1. For a year, in every month, make bank deposits for the periodic amount you should be paying.
2. If you failed once or had difficulty in meeting the deposit, don’t go for it. It only signals financial trouble if you choose to continue.
Being in your 30s means less room for financial mistakes. It should be your building stage, not your bounce back period. Always be cautious.

3. Not too late to create your own path
I know. People would say that you’re too old to make a career switch. Defy that thinking. You haven’t even reached half the century mark for heaven’s sake.
Stress is more common in the 30s age. It’s often because we don’t have the luxury of doing things that we’re really passionate about. Will you live the rest of your life in despair and what ifs? Take a stand. Invest in real personal growth and learning.

4. Being unmarried is still within ‘okay.’
You’re fed up with crappy and failed relationships. To compound the problem, there goes Aunt May and Uncle Ben with “When will you tie the knot Peter?” What could be even more frustrating is seeing your own pack get the priest’s blessings here and then.
You may feel pressed for time. But let me enumerate 3 positives:

What to do instead? Invest in self-love and discovery. The 30s life is filled with pressures and expectancies; rewarding yourself every once in a while wouldn’t hurt. You’ll get noticed by the ‘right one’ when you appear self-cared.

5. Widening your network is imperative
I and my high school friends Matt and Reed swore to be business partners someday. That pact remained intact at least before we graduated college. Now, I can’t even phone them.
In life, especially in one’s 30s, adaptability is key. You just can’t stick with people who share the same ideals as you. Tapping the benefits of having a wide network is also important.
And what’s in it for you? Referrals and market exposure. You can never tell if the key to a lucrative contract signing is through an acquaintance who you despise being with. Invest in connections.

6. You’re not indebted to anyone for approval
Doubters and critics will always try to go at your head. These guys speculate your every move and look for ways to stab your back.
That is especially true when you failed to reach your potential. If you don’t reach your ceiling, people who had high hopes for you will eventually turn their backs (even your family at times).
You’re in your 30s. You should be done crying over spilled milk. It’s game time, so you should silence the doubters and prove them wrong. Invest in self-respect.

7. Indulge in the simple joys in life
The thing we take for granted the most are the things we have at our disposal. It could be the scrumptiousus dinner your aging mother cooked or the reunions you purposely miss due to overtime work.
As you enter your 40s life, you’ll have a shortage of those. Growing older, you’ll realize that the real highlights of life are masked in those simple joys. Invest in moments.

As a fitting finale for this post, let me leave you with an insightful remark from American author Hervey Allen.

The only time you really live fully is 30-60. The young ones are slave to dreams; the old servants of regrets. Only the middle-aged have their five senses in the keeping of their wit.

For the 30-something peeps, you have to have a good start. This stretch is one determinant of what your older self will turn into. Invest in your 30s and make it a worthwhile investment.

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