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Money in Your 30s: Financial Goals Every Woman Should Have

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Money in Your 30s: Financial Goals Every Woman Should Have

Money in Your 30s

I’ll be honest: my twenties were a financial mess. I made decent money but had nothing to show for it. Turning 30 was my wake-up call to get serious about building wealth.

Where I Started

At 30, I had:

  • A 401(k) I barely understood
  • $8,000 in credit card debt
  • Maybe $2,000 in savings
  • Zero investments outside of retirement

Not exactly where I wanted to be.

The Financial Goals That Transformed Everything

1. Build a Proper Emergency Fund

Goal: 6 months of expenses in a high-yield savings account

This was my first priority. Before investing, before anything else, I needed a safety net. I automated $500/month until I hit my target.

Why it matters: When I lost my job unexpectedly last year, this fund let me take my time finding the right next role instead of panicking into the first offer.

2. Eliminate High-Interest Debt

Strategy: Avalanche method (highest interest first)

I attacked my credit card debt aggressively, throwing every extra dollar at it. It took 18 months, but the freedom of being debt-free was worth every sacrifice.

3. Max Out Retirement Contributions

Goal: Max out 401(k) and open a Roth IRA

The power of compound interest means every dollar invested in your thirties works harder than dollars invested in your forties. I now max out my 401(k) ($23,000 in 2025) and contribute to a Roth IRA.

4. Start Investing Outside Retirement

Strategy: Index funds and automatic contributions

I opened a brokerage account with Vanguard and set up automatic monthly investments into low-cost index funds. I don’t try to time the market or pick individual stocks.

5. Know My Numbers

Every month, I track:

  • Net worth
  • Spending by category
  • Savings rate
  • Investment returns

What gets measured gets managed.

The Money Mindset Shifts

From Scarcity to Abundance

I stopped saying “I can’t afford that” and started asking “How can I afford that?” This shift opened up creative thinking about earning and saving.

From Fear to Education

Investing used to terrify me. Now I understand that staying in cash is the real risk (hello, inflation). I educated myself through books, podcasts, and financial advisors.

From Keeping Up to Intentional Spending

I stopped comparing my lifestyle to others and started spending on what truly matters to me. I might not have the newest car, but I can afford solo trips to Portugal.

Practical Steps to Get Started

  1. Know where your money goes — Track for one month, no judgment
  2. Automate everything — Savings, investments, bill payments
  3. Increase your income — Ask for raises, start side projects
  4. Learn about investing — Start with “The Simple Path to Wealth” by JL Collins
  5. Find your community — Financial literacy shouldn’t be taboo

The Numbers That Matter at 30

  • Emergency fund: 3-6 months expenses
  • Retirement savings: 1x your annual salary by 30, 3x by 40
  • Savings rate: Aim for 20% of income
  • Debt-to-income: Below 35%

Resources I Recommend

Books:

  • “I Will Teach You to Be Rich” — Ramit Sethi
  • “The Simple Path to Wealth” — JL Collins
  • “Women & Money” — Suze Orman

Podcasts:

  • She’s on the Money
  • The Financial Confessions
  • Afford Anything

What’s your biggest financial question? Let’s talk about it!