Advice from a 30 Something: How I Wish I Managed My Finances in My 20s (2024)

FAQs

How to manage finances in your 20s? ›

Most people, even in their mid-to-late 20s are still struggling to establish themselves. That can be hard to do if your job isn't paying you enough, you're struggling to make rent, have no savings, and are being crushed by debt.

Financial experts typically recommend saving up three to six months' worth of necessary expenses in order to have a healthy, fully-funded emergency account. So, there's no specific number that a person in their twenties needs to have in their emergency fund — it should be based on their necessary monthly expenses.

That said, the typical age of financial independence should be between 20-23 years old, according to a Bankrate survey.

By age 25, you should have saved at least 0.5X your annual expenses. The more the better. In other words, if you spend $50,000 a year, you should have about $25,000 in savings. If you spend $100,000 a year, you should have at least $50,000 in savings.

Peak earning years are generally thought to be late 40s to late 50s*. The latest figures show women's peak between ages 35 and 54, men between 45 and 64.

If you're looking for a ballpark figure, Taylor Kovar, certified financial planner and CEO of Kovar Wealth Management says, “By age 30, a good rule of thumb is to aim to have saved the equivalent of your annual salary. Let's say you're earning $50,000 a year. By 30, it would be beneficial to have $50,000 saved.

How much should I be worth at 30? ›

The net worth you should be aiming for in your 30s is between $25,000 and $100,000, according to Crissi Cole, founder and CEO of Penny Finance.

Fidelity suggests 1x your income

So the average 30-year-old should have $50,000 to $60,000 saved by Fidelity's standards. Assuming that your income stays at $50,000 over time, here are financial milestones by decade. These goals aren't set in stone. Other financial planners suggest slightly different targets.

To have a top 1% at 25 requires a net worth of at least $250,000. To have a top 1% net worth at age 30 requires a net worth of at least $1 million and so forth. As the latest Federal Reserve Consumer Finance Survey shows, the average American household is now a millionaire with a net worth of $1.06 million.

Saving $1,000 per month can be a good sign, as it means you're setting aside money for emergencies and long-term goals. However, if you're ignoring high-interest debt to meet your savings goals, you might want to switch gears and focus on paying off debt first.

To have a negative savings rate means spending more money than you make and acquiring debt. The key to saving money is to: focus, make saving a habit and a priority, and discipline. Your income is not a key to saving money.

The 50-30-20 rule recommends putting 50% of your money toward needs, 30% toward wants, and 20% toward savings. The savings category also includes money you will need to realize your future goals.

The 50/30/20 budget works for many twenty-year old's because it's not too strict or structured. Plus, you can always adjust the percentages for your needs and goals.

To start, the 20/20/60 rule uses the same three categories as the above rule with some percentage adjustments: 20% for savings. 20% for consumer debt. 60% for living expenses.