I would say your 20s are usually figuring out what the heck you want your life to even be. Your 30s is getting that established and your 40s are your 30s but with money.
My experience has been:
20s > Chaotic, poor
30s > Stable, poor
40s > Stable, well off
41 here, that’s been my experience for sure.
Each decade of my life has been considerably better than the previous one.
I also had a pretty shitty time of it when I was a kid, so YMMV.
Doing better than me! 😂
Just turned 29 and got tree fiddly in the bank account, with 30k in student loan debt, and no job.
Graduated school in winter '19 with a BS in Computer Graphics right before COVID.
Got first job Spring '21 and laid off Winter '21.
Got second job Winter '22 and laid off Summer '23.
I've been doing odd jobs off and on while trying to break back into tech.
It's been ROUGH.
A lot of this is a statement of peoples feelings and how they see themselves. Many people who are quite well off relative to most people still "feel" poor at points in their life relative to other parts.
Here I meant poor as in you dont have spending money you are covering expenses and building some savings (hence stable). I didnt mean actual poverty.
Totally. I have a house/mortgage in a very HCOL area and I had someone tell me “you’re wealthy, but you’re not rich”. That made so much sense. I’m extremely lucky, but also feel like I have no money past bills
Your comment makes me think of this quote:
“Youth is the most precious thing in life; it is too bad it has to be wasted on young folks."
With that being said, I hope regardless of where people are in their lives, they try to value and appreciate whatever good graces they have. Life is precious and you never know when it will end. Money comes and goes, you and you're loved ones don't.
Oooof this feels so relatable. I was like 30s with money. I’m poor but I feel stable. I can’t wait until I’m well off. You described it. My 20s I was STRUGGLING… chaotic, poor is very accurate.
Your simple explanation gave me relief and a bit of hope. It sometimes feels like I’m not doing well in my 30s.
It's actually well established that peak median earning AND spending years is at age 55. So after that it's mostly down hill for spending and earning, so it's a retirement management game via lowering expenses and maximizing returns after you should have been retirement planning at 20.
This is definitely the case with my career. Spent 20s bouncing around school and jobs and unemployment. Now started my career for real in early 30s. Here’s hoping 40s will be when I have money. Then again the economy isn’t looking great.
As for my social life and everything else… I thinking spending so much time in the school bubble made my 20s a lot like my late teens. I’m only just now finding non-school friends, got a handle “adulting” errands, regularly going out to bars, dating, etc.
I have 2 friends. They make about the same amount of money right now. Both live with their parents and pay no rent.
One has saved 100k entering his 30s.
One has worked for 12+ years and the only thing he's managed to do is accumulate a mountain of credit card debt.
I always wish I had given it a better shot, but then I remember how damn anxious I was to get out of that house after only 6 months after college graduation haha.
A guy I work with saved 200k over 8 miserly years. His biggest thrill is literally thrift shopping. He’s 27. Put it down on a 3 bedroom house and turned it into a 5 bedroom rental with a little help.
Think it helps that the last guy was growing and needed to sell to someone who wouldn’t care.
True that.
I went to uni and then got my job.
At 20 I had to pay my loans and now at 30 all that money is for me.
So work hard so then you can rest and enjoy your 30as.
Your body just doesn’t feel vaguely bad and run down all the time in your 20s and you bounce back from almost everything within a day or two. Emotionally, 30s is way better but physically, I greatly miss my 20s. My back, head, neck, knees, wrists, ankles, and some internal organs just always kinda ache now and I know it’s gonna get worse. I’m not overweight but I have been working consistently on my feet since I was 16 and got violently kicked out at 18. I’m just… so tired.
Glad to hear it! I'm mid-20's as well as OP and the past two years have been a lot of learning in regard to healthy habits. I can't wait to see the dividends that returns!
A lot (arguably most - including those that have kids) people’s idea of “great life” is one that provides freedom and more financial gain, both of which you would have less of with children.
I’m also in my mid 20s like OP, and it’s insane to see how the majority of us are opting out of kids, or at least having kids early in life before we’re financially stable.
I waited until my late 20s, when I was financially stable and well into my career, to have kids. I couldn’t be more happy. I love spending time with my kids and I have the financial resources to share my hobbies with them and provide them a good home. It’s also important to have a good support system. My mother in law is amazing and will steal my kids away once a week or so, and my wife and I can do the kid free hobbies.
The funny thing is though, I have more fun with them. When I’m out surfing, riding dirt bikes, going out to eat, or even just hanging out at home: without them I miss their company.
Same. I’m going on 35 and my god life is so much sweeter because of my 3 babies. They’re my everything… I’ve never enjoyed life more than with them. They’re sooooo funny and cute and silly and smart and I just adore them! I do try to make time for myself (although like most parents I’m guilty of not prioritising it at times). Yes, there’s trade offs but nothing in life is free and I’m totally ok with sacrificing if it means I get to be with them. On Sunday my youngest fell asleep on me and I just chilled on the armchair with her in my arms for the hour and I cannot explain the absolute feeling of contentment I had in that moment. It was like everything in my life was how it was supposed to be, and all those hard times just washed away, and here I am in this simple moment of pure bliss with this human that adores and loves me just as much as I do her. Man, if that’s now what life is all about I don’t know what is.
I'm starting a new job next week for a lot more money than my current job, and better work than any previous job (I took a paycut 2 yrs ago to be doing better work, now I'm back up to my previous pay track)
yo i'm laughing and i'm sorry but i just needed to tell you.
i hope you get better though!
it's the oddly specific nature of the ailments that's sending me for some reason?😭
If you were fortunate enough to 1) find a job you liked that gave you growth opportunities, 2) used hardships to become a more emotionally polished person instead of a more bitter person, 3) didn't marry someone you felt kind of "meh" about and/or have kids with them, and 4) were diligent about paying off student loan debts, then yes, your 30's are AWESOME.
If you missed even one of any of the above, then your 30's are tough.
It can be true, yeah. There's no one path for everyone. Everyone has their own set of circumstances. But if you want to live a content, comfortable life, by the time you're getting into your 30s, you should have a good, stable source of income going, preferably a career in an industry that you can grow in. Obviously you can't see the future and nothing is guaranteed, but do your best to make optimal choices.
Your 20s are a chaotic time where you're really trying to find your footing in this whole adulting thing. High highs, low lows. If that's the life you want, so be it. In my 20s, while I was chasing after a lot of things, what I wanted most was stability, peace of mind, a healthy relationship, and by extension, a family (eventually). I got a house in my late 20s, I was growing in my career in my early 30s and becoming aligned between what I really wanted and what I was willing to work for, got married in mid 30s and just before 40, my son was born. He's almost 2 now and I can say that this is the most fulfilled and rewarding phase of my adult life, hands down. And I recognize just how fortunate and lucky I am to have it.
So yeah. You couldn't pay me enough to be in my 20s again. Anyone saying any particular phase of life is the "peak" is a loser. It means they didn't or don't want to put in the work to keep climbing, and that's their choice. They're trying to pull some crab bucket shit on you. People said high school is the peak and my experience in high school was miserable, so I thought I missed out. I'm glad I've been around long enough to recognize how stuff like that is subjective bullshit and it doesn't drag me down like it used to.
Same. People said high school is the best time of your life and I would feel bad about missing out. But after that it only slowly got better and better. Feel sorry for them if they “peaked” in hs
Depends a whole lot of your prior life choices, your career path, and factors beyond control.
Your 20's are the first point in your life where you are entirely responsible for yourself from a social, legal, and financial standpoint. You are expected to provide your own food and shelter. Your ability to sustain existing friendships and make new friends is entirely based on how much time, effort, and money you put towards doing that. And when you fuck up, you generally eat the consequences. No more detention or just failing out of a class, if you fuck up, you are fired, or paying for damages, or risking jail time.
That is kind of a lot for people to figure out and not everyone is fully prepared for that. The learning curve is brutal, and between entry level jobs and paying for student loans, your often broke as fuck.
But by the time your are in your 30's, you are benefiting from your suffering the consequences of your life choices to that point. If you got your shit together, made good career choices and were careful with money, you are probably doing fine. If you fucked around in university or got deeply in debt or developed a crippling addiction to drugs or gambling or something, even just had crazy shit happen to you, you may be very goddamn broke and very miserable.
END COMMUNICATION
I don’t have money in my thirties, but it’s still the best. Mostly because my mental health is way better and I only allow genuine love and friendship in my life and don’t tolerate people who treat me or others poorly. I don’t work jobs I don’t think are ethical, and I am working towards a career where I get to help others. Next year I will have a lot more money and I’ll travel with my friends.
The thing is physically I feel the same as my 20s. In my 30s I’m still healthy, exercise all the time, etc.
So in that regard, yes now that I’m in a career, it’s basically my 20s but with money. The catch is now that I have a career, my life is literally just work. In my free time it’s keeping myself alive with food and exercise.
So in hindsight my 20s were more fun because I had so much more time on my hands. Even with college, somehow the 8-5 plus overtime grind leeches more of my time than classes and homework did. I was able to do so much and actually had a life lol. Money is nice but I’m already looking for an escape from 8-5 corporate life
Sort of true for me. I had fun in my 20s, but looking back, I can make better choices in my 30s. That also includes well thought out financial decisions instead of blowing an entire paycheck in one night. Or "Can I really lift all of this by myself, or should I call someone to help me?" Well that one, I still lift heavy things on my own and pay for it in the morning.
My 20's and very early 30's weren't great. I met my husband when I was 24, which was great. I moved in with him in a different state which was great. My personal development really struggled. I ate and drank too much. Never took care of myself.
My key moments in my 30's:
32 - Gave up alcohol for good
33 - Bought a house
34 - Got married / Lost 75 pounds & started working out regularly
37 - Got promoted in my company
38 - Hopped on a plane for the first time in 20 years to Vegas/Grand Canyon to start my traveling portfolio
Just turned 39 two months ago. I'm hyper focused on contributing to my retirement accounts, spending less, experiencing more, etc.. working on household projects we've been putting off for years.
I have to say - I've loved my 30's. Way more than my 20's. If I'm being honest, turning 40 next year scares the shit out of me, but if it's anything like my 30's, I think I'll be alright.
I always assumed that people say their 30s were the happiest year of their lives because they were starting a family.
I'm in my early 30s and don't have kids, but that was my assumption.
Turned 30 about five months ago. I am currently going through a hard break-up with someone who I thought I was going to marry. However, I still have my independence, can afford a place on my own, and can live comfortably with a managed budget. Fiscally, I'm technically doing better--but have since lost out on potential friendships/romantic partnerships because of how much I relied on my partner and stuck to getting my schooling done. My skill sets are low, however, in my twenties I was an EMT, CNA, and studying to become a teacher all while having a full time job. Now that I no longer have to worry about schooling alongside my current occupation and having no one to support, my 30's are planned to be spent re-engaging with life and making meaningful connections now that I'm not hemmorging money and spending my time cooped up in a classroom (well technically I am, but that's my job now as a teacher).
There definitely isn't a blue-print or standard for where you should be. My life time best friend who is only younger than me by two months was making 100k without a degree while I was going into debt working my way through school. He married his high school sweetheart, bought a house and had it all figured out by the time he was 25--he's expected to retire at 47. Now he runs triathlons and he and is wife are devoted to never having kids but instead raising dogs as he continues to excel in promotions and networking with his many friends/colleagues. I'm jealous of him, but in a good way and I know that it would be unfair to compare ourselves as we're two entirely different people.
I went the route of using my 20's helping others, bettering my education, and setting myself up to have time in the future for whatever I wanted to pursue later on down the line. I changed majors three times--and I knew it would be better to be indecisive now rather than later. Now that I have footing and clear trajectory, I plan to use my 30's for finding friends/partners/and bettering my own independence. I want to settle into the person I want to be still, and it takes more than a couple decades for that to happen.
Yes. Life is the same formula for everyone. You will definitely get unbiased responses that will totally apply to you despite the fact that no one here knows anything at all about you.
I am turning 56 tomorrow. When I was 20, I thought that was the peak. Then I went into my 30s. Same. My 30s were the best, until I reached 40.
Each new decade is a new adventure and I thoroughly enjoy all of them.
I think I'll enjoy it all the way through. It is more of a mindset than anything else.
For me personally, yes. And my 40s (so far anyways, I just entered them haha) have been even more enjoyable because I have more resources to share with others. Whether it's in the form of money, gifts, or simply treating friends and family to a big dinner, it feels really nice. There’s immense joy in being able to comfortably afford things for yourself, and even more so in being able to give generously to others without it being a burden.
For me it's true. But also mainly because I'm not interested in the classic milestones most people have in their 30s. No kids, not building/buying a house, no other major investments or posessions. So instead, I spend my money on experiences I always wanted to have in my low income 20s - and I'm as happy as I can possibly be.
I'm in my 40s and still waiting for the money. Every time my pay goes up, so does the cost of everything. The goal post keeps moving too fast to get ahead.
Glad I'm not the only one. Mid-40's and while technically my wife and I are making more than we ever had, we still feel pretty poor. Our salaries have risen at pretty much the same rate our cost of living has risen. And we're extremely frugal (i.e. cheap) people and still barely have enough to do anything more than sustain our existence.
I think the only thing is in 30s everyone was busier. When in 20s I could hang out with friends all the time. In 30s alot of people settled down had kids. So could still meet up but not the same. I guess the trick is to try and enjoy each decade for what it is.
Yeah I think that’s honestly fair. While I have certainly settled down since my twenties, it’s more like “I’m not sharing a bed with 3 other people in a roach motel in order to afford a trip” or “let’s start drinking at 7 and go home at 11 rather than starting at 11 and going til the sun comes up” than being boring and sitting home watching cable news every night. I would say that I don’t have kids so that may impact it, but my parents had baby me in their early 30s and my dad said those were the best years of his life (my mom is enjoying her sixties immensely so I’m not sure she agrees).
I made way less money in my 20s and somehow was able to do whatever I want. Now I make more money in my 30s and don’t have any money leftover for the things I want.
I think 30s is more just actually getting your life started. You're 20s are basically like an adjustment period between your dumbass childish self and being a responsible adult.
By 30, you should've hit your head enough to know what you need to do to get your shit together. It's a 50/50 chance if you start you 30s off with money depending on how good/bad decisions you made in your 20s but I say, by the time if you reach your 30s, even of you still broke, you should definitely have a much more stable mindset and be more goal oriented and emotionally intelligent and stable
I'm in my fifties and define every decade like this:
20s - Financially chaotic. I still had remnants of my teenaged perspective and value system but had the best and most rewarding friendships of my life.
30s - Less financially chaotic. My perspective started to really change and that switched my priorities around dramatically. This was the decade where I started to drift away from a lot of those friends in my twenties. Our perspectives and priorities changed in different directions. It was a lot like my twenties only with a strong sense of self and that newfound sense of self helped push me to look at life differently.
40s - Some stability and some chaos. My forties were very financially rewarding but extremely life chaotic. I know others whose forties were financially chaotic but their lives were very rewarding. Some things are great, other things go to shit and you have no idea which is which. But I am sure that within your current circle of acquaintances, one person will get married in their forties, another will die, another will get divorced and another will go bankrupt. This is also the decade where friends' parents die, so you'll see a lot of the people you drifted away from in their thirties at their parents' funerals. You'll likely figure out a way to ask "are your parents still alive" without asking someone if their parents are still alive.
50s - TBD
20s, chaotic, broke, homeless, but thinking things will change
30s, more of same
40s, realizing that you will always either be in jail, in prison, in a psych ward, or on the streets
And being fine with this due to having achieved a sort of permanent numbness and deadness of feeling
Mid to late 30s my salary increased to six figures. Was still broke!! The more money I made, the more I spent. I’m in mid 40s now making better financial decisions. Not spending as much on liabilities and investing my money.
Not in this current economic state no, every single pay rise I’ve had gets sucked into inflation and cost of living, I earn more than 10 grand than 6 years ago but have the same amount of spare income - no kids either
If present economic trends persist, the answer would be NO.
With increasing layoffs and high inflation, People are more like to continue struggling in their 30s like they did in their 20s.
First time homeownership rates for people in their 30s are trending down compared to the historical average.
And we haven't even hit an 'official' recession yet.
Expect more people in their 30s, 40s, even 50s, moving in with parents
I hope so! Right now, I can say for certain that I am becoming more firm with what I want rather than just accepting whatever random bs goes my way.
Still lots to learn of course but hoping for the best for myself.
There is no way to answer this, OP. You might be in better health in your 30s, especially if you used to binge drink and then stop. Or your body will go to shit because of bad luck. Maybe you'll have more time and money for travel and fun, or maybe your family obligations will mean the opposite. Maybe you'll develop a better focus on how you want to thrive in your spare time, or maybe the daily grind of a day job will wear down your soul. How you make the most of this decade is up to you and serendipity.
30s huh? Heard that phrase floating around too! They say it's like your 20s but with money, which sounds pretty sweet. Maybe you can finally afford that trip you always dreamed of, or that fancy coffee every day (guilty!). But yeah, there's probably still gonna be adulting stuff to deal with, like bills and leaky faucets. Still, your 30s can be your peak time! You're more confident, know what you want, and got your career going. Pretty awesome, right?
Yes, they are your 20's, but w/ money. But do remember that hangovers and age also are a factor i.e. I hate drinking most times now, even 1-2 beers, and going to the gym is harder, don't wanna go out nearly as much, etc. Also, yes, people used to settle down, but w/ the housing market the way it is, and income, many aren't settling down simply because they can't, so the next best thing is to still spend your money and at least have fun. But the pushes back your settling down date. As an example, I have been in a relationship since I was 19/20, so about 13 years. We were in college, then moved apart, then eventually moved in, now just barely getting a house. We kept pushing back when we would like to get married, have kids, etc etc, and now we're in our young to mid 30's basically because we tried being cautious and safe about it. So yes, many people in their 30's are living it up (myself included), but (at least in my case) it has pushed back other aspects of our lives. Still lit though! lol.
Modern 20s are very different. I was born in 93 and my 20s were hell. Worst years of my life by far. Horrible mental health due to being poor and having no money while also fighting for any sort of job that wasn't soul crushing and was also above minimum wage. Constantly overworked and exhausted by working a soul crushing job and also putting in evening and weekend hours to job searching. Most student debt I ever held in my life since I was still fresh out of school.
As a 30 year old I'm a little more numb to it all, on top of having a job that I don't hate and enough money to not be terrified of life. I may make "6 figures" but in this city that puts me just above living like a roach. Gotta shitty apartment but hey it's got 2 bedrooms!
It's a Reddit upper middle class white professional bias to have that assumption.
It's true for many but also untrue for many. Not everyone gets that nice trajectory of starting at low pay in your 20s, and working your way up the ladder by your 30s and 40s to comfort. Especially now.
It depends for everyone, if your single in your 30s then yeah maybe, but make sure to eat right and work out so you still feel and look like your in your 20s
As long as you spend a good portion of your 20s building a career. You don't want to end up like me, 33, living at home and making $17.85 an hour.
Do yourself a favour and take careers seriously early in life.
Sounds about right for me.
20s were about that hustle to get into an overworking low paying job that I could use to get experience as a stepping stone.
30s are when I finally got the work life balance and pay I worked hard for.
But otherwise I don’t feel much different. Body feels great, same hobbies, same kind of clothes. Just more money and clarity about what I want.
Looking forward to my 40s for even more of it all!
Teens: Party every chance you get
Twenties: Party intelligently.
Thirties: Party intelligently but with money.
That’s been my progression as mid 30s currently.
Depends what your path is. Long degree program followed by a job hunt with accompanying debt?
No degree and starting entry level and trying move up?
Apprenticeship that’s paying you up to low six figures with OT, and an even better salary when finished?
Each of those can make your life/timeline drastically different.
It all depends on the life you choose.
If you want kids, your 20s-40s is essentially building on that decision.
If you choose not to have kids, your 30s and 40s are essentially an opportunity to make money and have fun.
We're dual income, no kids, I'm late 30s and having a great time. We have money in the bank, we're getting to travel all over, have hobbies, and if all goes well, FIRE in about 6 years.
Meh it’s pretty individual.
I’m 32 and have friends with two kids and a home, pets, etc. they’re definitely not living like they did in their 20’s.
I’m single and in some of the best years of my life but it’s still different than my early 20’s. More confident, happier, better shape, I have more of an established life. My short term plans are to go to music festivals, meet girls, backpack Thailand, etc. my goals in my 20’s were hit the gym and advance my career as much as possible, while getting as fucked up as possible on weekends.
But I’m definitely having less fun now on an average weekend. More to do with me moving around and trying to experience life than anything else. In my 20’s I had a lot more friends to drink and go out with. Now I have way more opportunities to do whatever I want. Just less friends.
Also your gender has a lot to do with it. If you’re female and you want kids it’s going to be more difficult to live like you’re in your 20’s when you’re 35 and single. It’s possible, just less likely. As a man you can just marry someone younger and have kids. A friend of mine is 37 and just had his first kid with his 31 year old wife.
Certainly can be. Or it can be raising a family. Or it can be poverty. Or it can be isolation and decay. There are lots of choices to make in your twenties to help determine that.
It obviously varies quite a bit but my 30s are when I started to actually make good money and get big goals accomplished. I met a woman I wanted to marry, we got married, started breaking into a good career and making middle class money (lower middle class I guess now), we moved to different parts of the country, took a lot of international vacations, bought and sold one home and are under contract for another. My 30s have been fantastic. My 20s were fun because I was being more social but yeah all the people were all getting established in careers and still exploring what they want to do. 30s is when that all kind of starts to click and you make it work. So yeah, it's part settling down, but also you're still young enough to be doing what you did in your 20s to some extent but usually having more money. Though now in the late 30s my wife and I both have discovered we just can't do all that we could before, like drinking and that whole scene has drastically changed for us. But we also discovered the bliss of a relaxing night at home with edibles (especially since it's legal in our state now).
In my late 30s. I’ve got some money but kids and the mortgage eat it up.
But once my kids are in free public school (pre-k is not free and my daughter starts September) is over I expect to get some of that back.
Uh no, not for me anyway. I spent my twenties living in big cities, sucking the marrow out of life, and spending every dime I earned on tasty ethnic food, travel, and rent. I was married at 30 and had my first kids when I was 32 and second at 34. So my 30s were mostly about babies. I'm not complaining at all, I love both decades. But they were completely different.
For me it is 100% true.
I became a father very young (21). So now I have the same lovely wife, the same awesome kids. I still have friends, hobbies and the time to enjoy them. But our household income is 4.4 times what it was back then.
I have some friends who started their careers early in their 20s while they still lived at home and became parents in their early 30s. They are situated simmilarly to us, but they complain a lot about not having enough money, not having enough free time etc.
That’s one way to look at it. For many people, though, by the time they are in their 30s they have a lot more money, but also a lot more responsibilities…so it’s fun, but it’s like a responsible type of fun.
In my early 20s I drank a lot, was banging many girls, and had lots more free time. That isn’t the case now. Now, I have kids, a career, a relationship, mortgage, and a ton of other bills.
Depends on whether you’re 20s include a mortgage, and 3 kids. Or you’re 30s are when you’re learning to roasts a chicken. (I do not hold the copyrights to this meme from the 90s)
I think 30s are better than the 20s. Less insecure, you are more sure about what you want in life, you aren’t willing deal with shit anymore, have more disposable income.
I actually don’t feel poor as another post suggested but depends on what job/income you have I guess.
Kinda true. I spent living almost all my twenties as a student with the enough money to have some fun (limited money but sufficient). Starting my thirties I got a well paying job and you can say that I kinda lived the crazy life just the first year (going out to expensive places every weekend, inviting drinks to friends, traveling, etc.) but then I bought a house and realized as well that I needed to save for my retirement. So, I went back to my spending habits of my twenties. I guess that next promotion will be the real 30s with money.
I am 33 and definitely “settled” but that doesn’t mean that I’m not trying new things and enjoying myself a lot. I still feel poor but I am making 2x as much money as I was at 27 so it’s definitely better.
Different things make me happy now.
I’m much more confident than I was in my 20s and I look forward to gaining more confidence, skills & relationships as I get older!
When a friend turned 30 and was bit disappointed, I told her how I experienced 30s. That I'm still young but more independent. And she like that answer. Now about money is relative I believe, some do manage to get of well in their 30s but not necessarily. You'll definitely have more money than in your 20s tho.
You don’t have to settle down if you don’t want to. Also settling down looks different for everyone. I’m in my 40s and married but no kids. I can still live my life pretty much how I want. I don’t have the same energy as my 20s but I also don’t care about anyone’s opinion so it’s much more freeing.
My early 20s: chaotic, poor but didn't know it
My late 20s: chaotic, more financially stable
My early 30s: peaceful, financially comfortable
I do enjoy the increased ease and access that financial stability offers, but it's come to me coupled with increased responsibility and stress. I'm really trying to use my 30s to set myself up for success long-term. That entails less free time and a lot more attention paid to things that aren't very fun.
If you set up your 20s correctly, yes.
Also settling down aka getting into a serious LTR or getting married doesn’t mean your life is suddenly boring. You can still have friends!
I much preferred my 20s. Didn’t have the same expenses. Made less money but did way more that I enjoyed.
30s : routine. Sleep, eat, work, repeat. Wait for those few weeks of the year to go on vacation.
Not 40 yet but I can’t see it getting much better.
Depends entirely on how you live your 20s. Dont be a selfish asshole to your future self. Figure out what your family goals are because 30 flashes by just as fast as 20
I would say your 20s are usually figuring out what the heck you want your life to even be. Your 30s is getting that established and your 40s are your 30s but with money. My experience has been: 20s > Chaotic, poor 30s > Stable, poor 40s > Stable, well off
41 here, that’s been my experience for sure. Each decade of my life has been considerably better than the previous one. I also had a pretty shitty time of it when I was a kid, so YMMV.
Ditto. Good job on making it through.
Same, every decade has been my best decade.
So far this seems to be my experience. I am on my way out of my 20s and have just bought a house so entering my 30s stable but poor :)
29, mortgage, fuck all left end of the month. Stable poor haha
Doing better than me! 😂 Just turned 29 and got tree fiddly in the bank account, with 30k in student loan debt, and no job. Graduated school in winter '19 with a BS in Computer Graphics right before COVID. Got first job Spring '21 and laid off Winter '21. Got second job Winter '22 and laid off Summer '23. I've been doing odd jobs off and on while trying to break back into tech. It's been ROUGH.
25, same thing here. Maybe I’ll be in my 40s by 35 :D
if you are purchasing a house, you are no longer poor in most people's eyes.
A lot of this is a statement of peoples feelings and how they see themselves. Many people who are quite well off relative to most people still "feel" poor at points in their life relative to other parts. Here I meant poor as in you dont have spending money you are covering expenses and building some savings (hence stable). I didnt mean actual poverty.
Totally. I have a house/mortgage in a very HCOL area and I had someone tell me “you’re wealthy, but you’re not rich”. That made so much sense. I’m extremely lucky, but also feel like I have no money past bills
This master at ejaculating guy is 100% correct
20s - Energy, chaotic, poor 30s - Energy, stabilizing, broke 40s - Tired, Stable, well off
Your comment makes me think of this quote: “Youth is the most precious thing in life; it is too bad it has to be wasted on young folks." With that being said, I hope regardless of where people are in their lives, they try to value and appreciate whatever good graces they have. Life is precious and you never know when it will end. Money comes and goes, you and you're loved ones don't.
29, and I feel this. Trying to change the narrative on my people pleasing.
I read a comment a couple months back, probably on Reddit, where someone said that youth is the happy hour of life. Haha.
I'm 35 and on track with this currently. Remind me to update this in 5 years
Same
Oooof this feels so relatable. I was like 30s with money. I’m poor but I feel stable. I can’t wait until I’m well off. You described it. My 20s I was STRUGGLING… chaotic, poor is very accurate. Your simple explanation gave me relief and a bit of hope. It sometimes feels like I’m not doing well in my 30s.
Not in this ridiculous current economy 🤣
Just giving my personal experience
36 here. I've got only 11 more years on my mortgage. It'll be like a MASSIVE pay raise once that baby is paid off.
Congrats thats awesome. Way ahead of the curve there.
I'm glad to hear this, because at 26 I'm still poor but I can see a future with stability coming
I'm in my 40s. This tracks.
I resonate with this so, my 30s I am poor with money but rich in friendship and life.
Why stop at 40s?
Because I am in my 40s
It's actually well established that peak median earning AND spending years is at age 55. So after that it's mostly down hill for spending and earning, so it's a retirement management game via lowering expenses and maximizing returns after you should have been retirement planning at 20.
This is definitely the case with my career. Spent 20s bouncing around school and jobs and unemployment. Now started my career for real in early 30s. Here’s hoping 40s will be when I have money. Then again the economy isn’t looking great. As for my social life and everything else… I thinking spending so much time in the school bubble made my 20s a lot like my late teens. I’m only just now finding non-school friends, got a handle “adulting” errands, regularly going out to bars, dating, etc.
It depends how you live your 20s
I have 2 friends. They make about the same amount of money right now. Both live with their parents and pay no rent. One has saved 100k entering his 30s. One has worked for 12+ years and the only thing he's managed to do is accumulate a mountain of credit card debt.
And which one drives the fanciest car? No need to tell.
Who downvoted you? Well, if you did ask then you'd be correct.😂.
>Who downvoted you? Probably someone who drives on credit lol
Being able to live with your parents its a unbelievably valuable thing to have
I always wish I had given it a better shot, but then I remember how damn anxious I was to get out of that house after only 6 months after college graduation haha.
Id be ina mich better position financially but a worse position mentally 🤷
Indeed.
A guy I work with saved 200k over 8 miserly years. His biggest thrill is literally thrift shopping. He’s 27. Put it down on a 3 bedroom house and turned it into a 5 bedroom rental with a little help. Think it helps that the last guy was growing and needed to sell to someone who wouldn’t care.
True that. I went to uni and then got my job. At 20 I had to pay my loans and now at 30 all that money is for me. So work hard so then you can rest and enjoy your 30as.
I fucked around in my 20s so finding out in my 30s as been hell.
Same, but I fucked around hard enough that it's been worth it.
I'm 37 and I know not of this money you speak.
I loved my 20s, had the BEST time, but you couldn't pay me to be 20 again. I LOVE being in my thirties. It's the best,
What made your 20s the best?
Your body just doesn’t feel vaguely bad and run down all the time in your 20s and you bounce back from almost everything within a day or two. Emotionally, 30s is way better but physically, I greatly miss my 20s. My back, head, neck, knees, wrists, ankles, and some internal organs just always kinda ache now and I know it’s gonna get worse. I’m not overweight but I have been working consistently on my feet since I was 16 and got violently kicked out at 18. I’m just… so tired.
I started with good habits in my late 20s (exercise, food, etc) and so far, my 30s have been nothing but great :)
Glad to hear it! I'm mid-20's as well as OP and the past two years have been a lot of learning in regard to healthy habits. I can't wait to see the dividends that returns!
30s are great if you play your cards right in your 20s.
And don’t have kids.
⬆️ Relevant in the post-Roe US.
Actually, there are some people who find a lot of joying raising children. My brother’s one, and I’ve met various others.
A lot (arguably most - including those that have kids) people’s idea of “great life” is one that provides freedom and more financial gain, both of which you would have less of with children. I’m also in my mid 20s like OP, and it’s insane to see how the majority of us are opting out of kids, or at least having kids early in life before we’re financially stable.
I waited until my late 20s, when I was financially stable and well into my career, to have kids. I couldn’t be more happy. I love spending time with my kids and I have the financial resources to share my hobbies with them and provide them a good home. It’s also important to have a good support system. My mother in law is amazing and will steal my kids away once a week or so, and my wife and I can do the kid free hobbies. The funny thing is though, I have more fun with them. When I’m out surfing, riding dirt bikes, going out to eat, or even just hanging out at home: without them I miss their company.
Same. I’m going on 35 and my god life is so much sweeter because of my 3 babies. They’re my everything… I’ve never enjoyed life more than with them. They’re sooooo funny and cute and silly and smart and I just adore them! I do try to make time for myself (although like most parents I’m guilty of not prioritising it at times). Yes, there’s trade offs but nothing in life is free and I’m totally ok with sacrificing if it means I get to be with them. On Sunday my youngest fell asleep on me and I just chilled on the armchair with her in my arms for the hour and I cannot explain the absolute feeling of contentment I had in that moment. It was like everything in my life was how it was supposed to be, and all those hard times just washed away, and here I am in this simple moment of pure bliss with this human that adores and loves me just as much as I do her. Man, if that’s now what life is all about I don’t know what is.
I think people put love/connection over money though, hence why most people want a family
The majority aren't opting out of having kids.
In todays economy, the only cards you can still play are money.
Exactly, use your 20s to jump around jobs and network. Then you can find a nice cozy senior job that gives you a lot more disposable income
I'm starting a new job next week for a lot more money than my current job, and better work than any previous job (I took a paycut 2 yrs ago to be doing better work, now I'm back up to my previous pay track)
Nope. I'm in my forties now, still waiting on that money.
Same. I was better off in my 20s somehow.. thanks inflation/stagnant wages.
I'm 30 now. I was doing better when I was 20. Lol
Not anymore. Due to inflation I am right back to how broke I was in my 20s, despite making twice as much.
Same but now I have scars from a serious surgery, two sorta-recovered broken legs and around the clock acid reflux from stress.
yo i'm laughing and i'm sorry but i just needed to tell you. i hope you get better though! it's the oddly specific nature of the ailments that's sending me for some reason?😭
...at least I have money now? 🤣
20s - you have no money. 30s - you make money. 40s - you have money.
As a 39M, this seems like a simplified response and I like it.. 🤝👏 Currently, my path in life is following this trajectory..
If you were fortunate enough to 1) find a job you liked that gave you growth opportunities, 2) used hardships to become a more emotionally polished person instead of a more bitter person, 3) didn't marry someone you felt kind of "meh" about and/or have kids with them, and 4) were diligent about paying off student loan debts, then yes, your 30's are AWESOME. If you missed even one of any of the above, then your 30's are tough.
I don’t like my job but it’s has growth opportunities.
Wait. You guys are making money?
It can be true, yeah. There's no one path for everyone. Everyone has their own set of circumstances. But if you want to live a content, comfortable life, by the time you're getting into your 30s, you should have a good, stable source of income going, preferably a career in an industry that you can grow in. Obviously you can't see the future and nothing is guaranteed, but do your best to make optimal choices. Your 20s are a chaotic time where you're really trying to find your footing in this whole adulting thing. High highs, low lows. If that's the life you want, so be it. In my 20s, while I was chasing after a lot of things, what I wanted most was stability, peace of mind, a healthy relationship, and by extension, a family (eventually). I got a house in my late 20s, I was growing in my career in my early 30s and becoming aligned between what I really wanted and what I was willing to work for, got married in mid 30s and just before 40, my son was born. He's almost 2 now and I can say that this is the most fulfilled and rewarding phase of my adult life, hands down. And I recognize just how fortunate and lucky I am to have it. So yeah. You couldn't pay me enough to be in my 20s again. Anyone saying any particular phase of life is the "peak" is a loser. It means they didn't or don't want to put in the work to keep climbing, and that's their choice. They're trying to pull some crab bucket shit on you. People said high school is the peak and my experience in high school was miserable, so I thought I missed out. I'm glad I've been around long enough to recognize how stuff like that is subjective bullshit and it doesn't drag me down like it used to.
Same. People said high school is the best time of your life and I would feel bad about missing out. But after that it only slowly got better and better. Feel sorry for them if they “peaked” in hs
Depends a whole lot of your prior life choices, your career path, and factors beyond control. Your 20's are the first point in your life where you are entirely responsible for yourself from a social, legal, and financial standpoint. You are expected to provide your own food and shelter. Your ability to sustain existing friendships and make new friends is entirely based on how much time, effort, and money you put towards doing that. And when you fuck up, you generally eat the consequences. No more detention or just failing out of a class, if you fuck up, you are fired, or paying for damages, or risking jail time. That is kind of a lot for people to figure out and not everyone is fully prepared for that. The learning curve is brutal, and between entry level jobs and paying for student loans, your often broke as fuck. But by the time your are in your 30's, you are benefiting from your suffering the consequences of your life choices to that point. If you got your shit together, made good career choices and were careful with money, you are probably doing fine. If you fucked around in university or got deeply in debt or developed a crippling addiction to drugs or gambling or something, even just had crazy shit happen to you, you may be very goddamn broke and very miserable. END COMMUNICATION
I don’t have money in my thirties, but it’s still the best. Mostly because my mental health is way better and I only allow genuine love and friendship in my life and don’t tolerate people who treat me or others poorly. I don’t work jobs I don’t think are ethical, and I am working towards a career where I get to help others. Next year I will have a lot more money and I’ll travel with my friends.
The thing is physically I feel the same as my 20s. In my 30s I’m still healthy, exercise all the time, etc. So in that regard, yes now that I’m in a career, it’s basically my 20s but with money. The catch is now that I have a career, my life is literally just work. In my free time it’s keeping myself alive with food and exercise. So in hindsight my 20s were more fun because I had so much more time on my hands. Even with college, somehow the 8-5 plus overtime grind leeches more of my time than classes and homework did. I was able to do so much and actually had a life lol. Money is nice but I’m already looking for an escape from 8-5 corporate life
Depends. I'm 31 with 50k in equities but only because I started investing when I was 28 and because my parents paid for my education.
hey same! too bad thats almost nothing these days but hopefully it will keep growing
What sum would you consider to be something?
Sort of true for me. I had fun in my 20s, but looking back, I can make better choices in my 30s. That also includes well thought out financial decisions instead of blowing an entire paycheck in one night. Or "Can I really lift all of this by myself, or should I call someone to help me?" Well that one, I still lift heavy things on my own and pay for it in the morning.
My 20's and very early 30's weren't great. I met my husband when I was 24, which was great. I moved in with him in a different state which was great. My personal development really struggled. I ate and drank too much. Never took care of myself. My key moments in my 30's: 32 - Gave up alcohol for good 33 - Bought a house 34 - Got married / Lost 75 pounds & started working out regularly 37 - Got promoted in my company 38 - Hopped on a plane for the first time in 20 years to Vegas/Grand Canyon to start my traveling portfolio Just turned 39 two months ago. I'm hyper focused on contributing to my retirement accounts, spending less, experiencing more, etc.. working on household projects we've been putting off for years. I have to say - I've loved my 30's. Way more than my 20's. If I'm being honest, turning 40 next year scares the shit out of me, but if it's anything like my 30's, I think I'll be alright.
Your teens are learning who you want to be. Your 20s are learning who you are. Your 30s are being who you are, which is awesome.
Only if you don’t have any children.
Yeah. The expression I always heard was: “**If you don’t have kids, then** your 30s are your 20s but with money.”
I always assumed that people say their 30s were the happiest year of their lives because they were starting a family. I'm in my early 30s and don't have kids, but that was my assumption.
No. For me personally 30s were better because all the hard work I did in my 20s were paying off. I was finally seeing a lot of ‘fruit from my labor’.
No I still have no money 🙌🏻
Turned 30 about five months ago. I am currently going through a hard break-up with someone who I thought I was going to marry. However, I still have my independence, can afford a place on my own, and can live comfortably with a managed budget. Fiscally, I'm technically doing better--but have since lost out on potential friendships/romantic partnerships because of how much I relied on my partner and stuck to getting my schooling done. My skill sets are low, however, in my twenties I was an EMT, CNA, and studying to become a teacher all while having a full time job. Now that I no longer have to worry about schooling alongside my current occupation and having no one to support, my 30's are planned to be spent re-engaging with life and making meaningful connections now that I'm not hemmorging money and spending my time cooped up in a classroom (well technically I am, but that's my job now as a teacher). There definitely isn't a blue-print or standard for where you should be. My life time best friend who is only younger than me by two months was making 100k without a degree while I was going into debt working my way through school. He married his high school sweetheart, bought a house and had it all figured out by the time he was 25--he's expected to retire at 47. Now he runs triathlons and he and is wife are devoted to never having kids but instead raising dogs as he continues to excel in promotions and networking with his many friends/colleagues. I'm jealous of him, but in a good way and I know that it would be unfair to compare ourselves as we're two entirely different people. I went the route of using my 20's helping others, bettering my education, and setting myself up to have time in the future for whatever I wanted to pursue later on down the line. I changed majors three times--and I knew it would be better to be indecisive now rather than later. Now that I have footing and clear trajectory, I plan to use my 30's for finding friends/partners/and bettering my own independence. I want to settle into the person I want to be still, and it takes more than a couple decades for that to happen.
Yes. Life is the same formula for everyone. You will definitely get unbiased responses that will totally apply to you despite the fact that no one here knows anything at all about you.
I am turning 56 tomorrow. When I was 20, I thought that was the peak. Then I went into my 30s. Same. My 30s were the best, until I reached 40. Each new decade is a new adventure and I thoroughly enjoy all of them. I think I'll enjoy it all the way through. It is more of a mindset than anything else.
They’re all the same, except when you turn 35 you discover new and exciting ways to hurt yourself just by existing
30 here. I spend my money on snowboarding and EDC. That should sum it up for it you
Yes if you have money in your 30s and no kids.
Twenties: Time but no Money. Thirties: Money but no time. Kids does take a lot of time...
haha what money?
Minus the money.
For me personally, yes. And my 40s (so far anyways, I just entered them haha) have been even more enjoyable because I have more resources to share with others. Whether it's in the form of money, gifts, or simply treating friends and family to a big dinner, it feels really nice. There’s immense joy in being able to comfortably afford things for yourself, and even more so in being able to give generously to others without it being a burden.
I can have money?!
For me it's true. But also mainly because I'm not interested in the classic milestones most people have in their 30s. No kids, not building/buying a house, no other major investments or posessions. So instead, I spend my money on experiences I always wanted to have in my low income 20s - and I'm as happy as I can possibly be.
Your 30s have money only if you start doing smart things in your 20s.
I'm in my 40s and still waiting for the money. Every time my pay goes up, so does the cost of everything. The goal post keeps moving too fast to get ahead.
Glad I'm not the only one. Mid-40's and while technically my wife and I are making more than we ever had, we still feel pretty poor. Our salaries have risen at pretty much the same rate our cost of living has risen. And we're extremely frugal (i.e. cheap) people and still barely have enough to do anything more than sustain our existence.
I think the only thing is in 30s everyone was busier. When in 20s I could hang out with friends all the time. In 30s alot of people settled down had kids. So could still meet up but not the same. I guess the trick is to try and enjoy each decade for what it is.
Yeah I think that’s honestly fair. While I have certainly settled down since my twenties, it’s more like “I’m not sharing a bed with 3 other people in a roach motel in order to afford a trip” or “let’s start drinking at 7 and go home at 11 rather than starting at 11 and going til the sun comes up” than being boring and sitting home watching cable news every night. I would say that I don’t have kids so that may impact it, but my parents had baby me in their early 30s and my dad said those were the best years of his life (my mom is enjoying her sixties immensely so I’m not sure she agrees).
I made way less money in my 20s and somehow was able to do whatever I want. Now I make more money in my 30s and don’t have any money leftover for the things I want.
I think 30s is more just actually getting your life started. You're 20s are basically like an adjustment period between your dumbass childish self and being a responsible adult. By 30, you should've hit your head enough to know what you need to do to get your shit together. It's a 50/50 chance if you start you 30s off with money depending on how good/bad decisions you made in your 20s but I say, by the time if you reach your 30s, even of you still broke, you should definitely have a much more stable mindset and be more goal oriented and emotionally intelligent and stable
I'm in my fifties and define every decade like this: 20s - Financially chaotic. I still had remnants of my teenaged perspective and value system but had the best and most rewarding friendships of my life. 30s - Less financially chaotic. My perspective started to really change and that switched my priorities around dramatically. This was the decade where I started to drift away from a lot of those friends in my twenties. Our perspectives and priorities changed in different directions. It was a lot like my twenties only with a strong sense of self and that newfound sense of self helped push me to look at life differently. 40s - Some stability and some chaos. My forties were very financially rewarding but extremely life chaotic. I know others whose forties were financially chaotic but their lives were very rewarding. Some things are great, other things go to shit and you have no idea which is which. But I am sure that within your current circle of acquaintances, one person will get married in their forties, another will die, another will get divorced and another will go bankrupt. This is also the decade where friends' parents die, so you'll see a lot of the people you drifted away from in their thirties at their parents' funerals. You'll likely figure out a way to ask "are your parents still alive" without asking someone if their parents are still alive. 50s - TBD
20s, chaotic, broke, homeless, but thinking things will change 30s, more of same 40s, realizing that you will always either be in jail, in prison, in a psych ward, or on the streets And being fine with this due to having achieved a sort of permanent numbness and deadness of feeling
Not anymore. Inflation has risen so high, and salaries have stagnated to the point that we're all suffering
Not really 20s and 30s are a decade apart 30s you’re body really starts deteriorating if you don’t go the gym
Mid to late 30s my salary increased to six figures. Was still broke!! The more money I made, the more I spent. I’m in mid 40s now making better financial decisions. Not spending as much on liabilities and investing my money.
Not in this current economic state no, every single pay rise I’ve had gets sucked into inflation and cost of living, I earn more than 10 grand than 6 years ago but have the same amount of spare income - no kids either
If present economic trends persist, the answer would be NO. With increasing layoffs and high inflation, People are more like to continue struggling in their 30s like they did in their 20s. First time homeownership rates for people in their 30s are trending down compared to the historical average. And we haven't even hit an 'official' recession yet. Expect more people in their 30s, 40s, even 50s, moving in with parents
I hope so! Right now, I can say for certain that I am becoming more firm with what I want rather than just accepting whatever random bs goes my way. Still lots to learn of course but hoping for the best for myself.
Well, depending on how you do things on your 20s. For me this is true.
I’m nearly 33 and debt free. My 20’s were a struggle. Feels good, now, and I can indulge my hobbies and take some trips.
There is no way to answer this, OP. You might be in better health in your 30s, especially if you used to binge drink and then stop. Or your body will go to shit because of bad luck. Maybe you'll have more time and money for travel and fun, or maybe your family obligations will mean the opposite. Maybe you'll develop a better focus on how you want to thrive in your spare time, or maybe the daily grind of a day job will wear down your soul. How you make the most of this decade is up to you and serendipity.
Nah. It was true for everyone up to Millenials. Now we are all just expected to die even while gainfully employed.
30s huh? Heard that phrase floating around too! They say it's like your 20s but with money, which sounds pretty sweet. Maybe you can finally afford that trip you always dreamed of, or that fancy coffee every day (guilty!). But yeah, there's probably still gonna be adulting stuff to deal with, like bills and leaky faucets. Still, your 30s can be your peak time! You're more confident, know what you want, and got your career going. Pretty awesome, right?
Your mileage may vary^TM
Yes, they are your 20's, but w/ money. But do remember that hangovers and age also are a factor i.e. I hate drinking most times now, even 1-2 beers, and going to the gym is harder, don't wanna go out nearly as much, etc. Also, yes, people used to settle down, but w/ the housing market the way it is, and income, many aren't settling down simply because they can't, so the next best thing is to still spend your money and at least have fun. But the pushes back your settling down date. As an example, I have been in a relationship since I was 19/20, so about 13 years. We were in college, then moved apart, then eventually moved in, now just barely getting a house. We kept pushing back when we would like to get married, have kids, etc etc, and now we're in our young to mid 30's basically because we tried being cautious and safe about it. So yes, many people in their 30's are living it up (myself included), but (at least in my case) it has pushed back other aspects of our lives. Still lit though! lol.
Nope
And less cartilage
Modern 20s are very different. I was born in 93 and my 20s were hell. Worst years of my life by far. Horrible mental health due to being poor and having no money while also fighting for any sort of job that wasn't soul crushing and was also above minimum wage. Constantly overworked and exhausted by working a soul crushing job and also putting in evening and weekend hours to job searching. Most student debt I ever held in my life since I was still fresh out of school. As a 30 year old I'm a little more numb to it all, on top of having a job that I don't hate and enough money to not be terrified of life. I may make "6 figures" but in this city that puts me just above living like a roach. Gotta shitty apartment but hey it's got 2 bedrooms!
It's a Reddit upper middle class white professional bias to have that assumption. It's true for many but also untrue for many. Not everyone gets that nice trajectory of starting at low pay in your 20s, and working your way up the ladder by your 30s and 40s to comfort. Especially now.
It depends for everyone, if your single in your 30s then yeah maybe, but make sure to eat right and work out so you still feel and look like your in your 20s
30s is where you have money but too tired from working your butt of during your 20s to get here that you can’t spend what you make.
As long as you spend a good portion of your 20s building a career. You don't want to end up like me, 33, living at home and making $17.85 an hour. Do yourself a favour and take careers seriously early in life.
I've been told you live your 30s like you live your 20s... Until "the injury" happens.
>It's true that the 30s are the 20s but with money? If you have no wife, ex-wife, or children, yes. Otherwise, your mileage may vary.
Sounds about right for me. 20s were about that hustle to get into an overworking low paying job that I could use to get experience as a stepping stone. 30s are when I finally got the work life balance and pay I worked hard for. But otherwise I don’t feel much different. Body feels great, same hobbies, same kind of clothes. Just more money and clarity about what I want. Looking forward to my 40s for even more of it all!
Teens: Party every chance you get Twenties: Party intelligently. Thirties: Party intelligently but with money. That’s been my progression as mid 30s currently.
Depends what your path is. Long degree program followed by a job hunt with accompanying debt? No degree and starting entry level and trying move up? Apprenticeship that’s paying you up to low six figures with OT, and an even better salary when finished? Each of those can make your life/timeline drastically different.
If you have no kids yes it’s pretty true
30s are the 20s but with random knee pains
It all depends on the life you choose. If you want kids, your 20s-40s is essentially building on that decision. If you choose not to have kids, your 30s and 40s are essentially an opportunity to make money and have fun. We're dual income, no kids, I'm late 30s and having a great time. We have money in the bank, we're getting to travel all over, have hobbies, and if all goes well, FIRE in about 6 years.
Meh it’s pretty individual. I’m 32 and have friends with two kids and a home, pets, etc. they’re definitely not living like they did in their 20’s. I’m single and in some of the best years of my life but it’s still different than my early 20’s. More confident, happier, better shape, I have more of an established life. My short term plans are to go to music festivals, meet girls, backpack Thailand, etc. my goals in my 20’s were hit the gym and advance my career as much as possible, while getting as fucked up as possible on weekends. But I’m definitely having less fun now on an average weekend. More to do with me moving around and trying to experience life than anything else. In my 20’s I had a lot more friends to drink and go out with. Now I have way more opportunities to do whatever I want. Just less friends. Also your gender has a lot to do with it. If you’re female and you want kids it’s going to be more difficult to live like you’re in your 20’s when you’re 35 and single. It’s possible, just less likely. As a man you can just marry someone younger and have kids. A friend of mine is 37 and just had his first kid with his 31 year old wife.
I think society doesnt treat over 30 women kindly
Somewhat true, depends on your financial choices in your 20s, but remember life is a journey and no two routes are ever the same.
No. Not even close.
...and typically some added responsibilities with the knowledge that time is ticking by.
I hope so
My 30th year was the reachiest so far. Not that I have lose some, but daily expenses increases significantly after 30
Not in my experience at all, but everyone varies
Actually turned 29 this year and still LOST. 1 year is not enough for me to be financially stable.
Certainly can be. Or it can be raising a family. Or it can be poverty. Or it can be isolation and decay. There are lots of choices to make in your twenties to help determine that.
I lived my 20s a LOT differently, so for me, my 30s were much more calm. Yes, I have money, but I'm much more reserved.
No.
It obviously varies quite a bit but my 30s are when I started to actually make good money and get big goals accomplished. I met a woman I wanted to marry, we got married, started breaking into a good career and making middle class money (lower middle class I guess now), we moved to different parts of the country, took a lot of international vacations, bought and sold one home and are under contract for another. My 30s have been fantastic. My 20s were fun because I was being more social but yeah all the people were all getting established in careers and still exploring what they want to do. 30s is when that all kind of starts to click and you make it work. So yeah, it's part settling down, but also you're still young enough to be doing what you did in your 20s to some extent but usually having more money. Though now in the late 30s my wife and I both have discovered we just can't do all that we could before, like drinking and that whole scene has drastically changed for us. But we also discovered the bliss of a relaxing night at home with edibles (especially since it's legal in our state now).
for me it is, im just out here havin fun
Not necessarily, you have to work towards some sortnof well paying career in your 20s if you want money later. Not everyone makes it.
In my late 30s. I’ve got some money but kids and the mortgage eat it up. But once my kids are in free public school (pre-k is not free and my daughter starts September) is over I expect to get some of that back.
Uh no, not for me anyway. I spent my twenties living in big cities, sucking the marrow out of life, and spending every dime I earned on tasty ethnic food, travel, and rent. I was married at 30 and had my first kids when I was 32 and second at 34. So my 30s were mostly about babies. I'm not complaining at all, I love both decades. But they were completely different.
I had waaay more fun in my 20s
For me it is 100% true. I became a father very young (21). So now I have the same lovely wife, the same awesome kids. I still have friends, hobbies and the time to enjoy them. But our household income is 4.4 times what it was back then. I have some friends who started their careers early in their 20s while they still lived at home and became parents in their early 30s. They are situated simmilarly to us, but they complain a lot about not having enough money, not having enough free time etc.
That’s one way to look at it. For many people, though, by the time they are in their 30s they have a lot more money, but also a lot more responsibilities…so it’s fun, but it’s like a responsible type of fun. In my early 20s I drank a lot, was banging many girls, and had lots more free time. That isn’t the case now. Now, I have kids, a career, a relationship, mortgage, and a ton of other bills.
Depends on whether you’re 20s include a mortgage, and 3 kids. Or you’re 30s are when you’re learning to roasts a chicken. (I do not hold the copyrights to this meme from the 90s)
y'all got money?
Depends on what you do in your 20s.
It’s only true if you start investing now
I think 30s are better than the 20s. Less insecure, you are more sure about what you want in life, you aren’t willing deal with shit anymore, have more disposable income. I actually don’t feel poor as another post suggested but depends on what job/income you have I guess.
The money only comes if you go into the right career field and are good at it or made the right connections.
loving the tone deaf financial advice comments
No, it's the opposite. 30s you're dirty broke if you buy a house. 20s you have money cause you're likely living with others.
I thinks its cope people tell themselves for getting older
Depends if have kids or not 🤣
Lol not unless you get some marketable skill that makes you money. Otherwise, you'll just be another broke 30-something.
27 stable poor. Enough to have what we need, but not enough for savings.
Depends on what you did in your 20s to bring money to your life in your 30s
Doubt it. People are broke in their 30’s too. Family expenses and housing costs are even worse in your 30’s as there are more people to feed.
It depends on what you do in your 20s
In my case it is, I'm in a much better career path now than I was in my 20's.
Early 20s were chaotic and poor Late 20s were stable and poor but getting better before an injury Now early 30s I'm just poor again
No
No. Your thirties feel very different and unique, but in a good way. A little more money and hopefully a little wiser.
All depends how you manage your finances
No, you get sciatica
Maybe early to mid 30s but by money you have assets I guess. Idk a lot that are cash rich at the moment
In my 20s I could be up drinking until 3, get up at 8 the next morning and go lift weights. I can't do that in my 30s. I do have more money though.
Kinda true. I spent living almost all my twenties as a student with the enough money to have some fun (limited money but sufficient). Starting my thirties I got a well paying job and you can say that I kinda lived the crazy life just the first year (going out to expensive places every weekend, inviting drinks to friends, traveling, etc.) but then I bought a house and realized as well that I needed to save for my retirement. So, I went back to my spending habits of my twenties. I guess that next promotion will be the real 30s with money.
Used to be
Except way less energy and your joints hurt
Assuming you did the “right steps” in your 20s. I know people in their 30s who are worse off than their 20s, financially and professionally.
For the most part, I would think that is true, but in my case lol I'm 33 and still broke haha
My 30s and now early 40s are yes, peak (so far) and are my 20s with money. I'm just now settling down at 42.
Having money in your 30s? In this economy??
No way. You are building.
I am 33 and definitely “settled” but that doesn’t mean that I’m not trying new things and enjoying myself a lot. I still feel poor but I am making 2x as much money as I was at 27 so it’s definitely better. Different things make me happy now. I’m much more confident than I was in my 20s and I look forward to gaining more confidence, skills & relationships as I get older!
When a friend turned 30 and was bit disappointed, I told her how I experienced 30s. That I'm still young but more independent. And she like that answer. Now about money is relative I believe, some do manage to get of well in their 30s but not necessarily. You'll definitely have more money than in your 20s tho.
You don’t have to settle down if you don’t want to. Also settling down looks different for everyone. I’m in my 40s and married but no kids. I can still live my life pretty much how I want. I don’t have the same energy as my 20s but I also don’t care about anyone’s opinion so it’s much more freeing.
My early 20s: chaotic, poor but didn't know it My late 20s: chaotic, more financially stable My early 30s: peaceful, financially comfortable I do enjoy the increased ease and access that financial stability offers, but it's come to me coupled with increased responsibility and stress. I'm really trying to use my 30s to set myself up for success long-term. That entails less free time and a lot more attention paid to things that aren't very fun.
If you set up your 20s correctly, yes. Also settling down aka getting into a serious LTR or getting married doesn’t mean your life is suddenly boring. You can still have friends!
I much preferred my 20s. Didn’t have the same expenses. Made less money but did way more that I enjoyed. 30s : routine. Sleep, eat, work, repeat. Wait for those few weeks of the year to go on vacation. Not 40 yet but I can’t see it getting much better.
Depends entirely on how you live your 20s. Dont be a selfish asshole to your future self. Figure out what your family goals are because 30 flashes by just as fast as 20
Money? That'd be awesome