Your BIG 30 List!

OK, you graduated. And hopefully are on the right track for your first job! Want to make the most of this new chapter in your life? Here's what we think should be in before your "Before I Turn 30" list.

OWN A CAR
An automobile is most often your first big buy. Being mobile accords with a sense of freedom,which is similar to owning your first cheque! After all, you don't want to keep bumming off rides from your colleagues to go to meetings nor do you want to have to always be dependant on your folks to get from Point A to Point B (and sometimes Point C).To be able to do this, you must obviously have a good money sense on your shoulders. So work on a budget that will allow you to save enough money to pay for downpayments (which means start working!) but you still need to be able to meet the monthly repayment (and on time too).

WORK ON A MAJOR PROJECT AT WORK
If you've reached the big 3-0 and still have not been assigned a major project at work, ask yourself if you are doing the right things (or if you are even in the right industry!). Being assigned something big shows you that you are someone who is responsible and dedicated enough to see the project through. You don't want to celebrate your 30th birthday still doing menial work at the office, right?

BUY A HOUSE
Or at least start a fund that will let you purchase your first home by the time you hit 30 (and without having to get a loan from your parents!). There are plenty of tools online that can help you gauge how much you need to save each month in order to afford a home. sure, inflation comes to play over the years but if you have a steady saving, you should be able to afford the downpayment at least. Read up on property news to get acquinted with what's out there so that when it comes to the time for your big purchase, you know exactly what look out for.

EXPERIENCE A DREAM HOLIDAY
Whether it is a Europe vacation or a hiking trip up Annapurna, we all have that dream holiday we want to go on. And should - before you turn 30! Travel broadens the mind and opens you up to different cultures and people. It will give you a new sense of your own world and helps you appreciate things even more. Plus, being able to see all those beautiful sights? Priceless. So plan that dream holiday now and make it happen!

TICKED OFF A FEW THINGS FROM YOUR RESOLUTION LIST
Save more money - tick. Learn a new musical instrument - tick. Master that recipe - tick. Run a marathon - tick.Tick, tick,tick - it feels good to accomplish things, right? And you don't want to live your 20s without achieving anything. It doesn't have to be a major achievement - minor ones (as long as it is important to you!) can give you that great sense of satisfaction as well. Start making your list and work towards ticking them off one by one.

HAVE A SIZEABLE SAVINGS IN YOUR BANK
OK sure, splurge that first pay cheque or that first bonus on whatever your heart desires. But aside from that, it's time to get down to real money sense. If by 30 you don't have proper savings, then boy are you in money trouble. There is a reason why it's called saving for a rainy day because you just never know when you might need the dough - whether it is for medical emergencies or even paying for your first house. So learn to set aside some money from your salary each month and start growing that pot of gold!

GET A PROMOTION (OR A NEW JOB WITH HIGHER POSITION - AND SALARY)
Great if you are still at the same office since Day One of your career life. Not so great if you are still in the position! There should be some progression in terms of your salary as well as expertise throughout the years. This progression should earn you a higher position whether in the same company or another. In essence, you should not be stuck in the same position as this not only makes you stagnant in terms of your career growth but you 're not exactly learning anything new!

BE CREDITED-CARD DEBT-FREE
We all have them at one point in our life... but it shouldn't be for the rest of your life! Sure - there are times when credit comes in handy, like for big purchase (or splurges) but make sure these don't accumulate or you'll run in serious financial blues. So before you turn 3-0, do yourself (and your sanity) a favour and clear those credit-card debts. You don't want to still be paying for that (insert expensive buy here) 10 years down the road,right?

Photo by Marina Lima on Unsplash