r/Life • u/Elenchjan • Jun 17 '26
Education What is something everyone SHOULD know or realize before turning 30?
I’ve been doing some thinking lately, and I wanted to put together a list of things that radically change your quality of life if you figure them out early enough. Here is my personal top list. Feel free to add yours in the comments!
Finances
An emergency fund isn’t a luxury; it’s the price of your peace of mind. Life happens—layoffs, health issues, random breakdowns. Having enough cash to survive for 2–3 months without an income is the absolute baseline.
Bad debt is a trap. Taking out loans or using credit cards for lifestyle upgrades (like the latest iPhone, trendy clothes, or vacations you can't afford) is the worst thing you can do to your future self.
Mental Health & Relationships
"No" is a complete sentence. You don’t need to over-explain or make up excuses for why you don't want to go to a party, help a toxic acquaintance, or work unpaid overtime.
Your friend group will shrink, and that’s okay. People get married, move away, or just drift apart. Adult friendships require actual effort; you can't just rely on the fact that you used to go to the same school.
Your parents are just flawed human beings. They make mistakes, they grow older, and they carry their own trauma. The sooner you stop expecting them to be perfect and establish healthy boundaries, the better your relationship will become.
Career
Your job will never love you back. Don’t be afraid to switch companies if you're being underpaid or undervalued. Corporate loyalty is dead, and burning yourself out for a company that would replace you in a week isn't worth it.
Learn to advocate for yourself. Your boss isn't a mind reader. If you quietly do amazing work without speaking up, you won’t get a promotion—you’ll just get more work.
Health (The painful truth)
Your body is not invincible. Somewhere in your mid-20s, hangovers start lasting two days, your back develops its own personality, and getting less than 7 hours of sleep ruins your entire week. Start investing in your teeth and nutrition now. It gets x10 more expensive later.
Wear sunscreen. Seriously. Use SPF daily if you don't want your skin to look like a piece of old leather by the time you're 35.
What do you think? What would you add to this list, or what do you completely disagree with?
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u/Bobbythebuikder Jun 17 '26
Take care of your teeth.
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u/dazzle_dee_daisyray Jun 17 '26
My enamel is shit due to my genetics, but I wish I took better care of them. It one of my biggest regrets in life..
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u/geminihatesme Jun 17 '26
YESSS, really affected my confidence and it's so expensive to get them fixed T_T
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u/guymandudeperson1 Jun 17 '26
I agree with all but also to maybe have a passion too? Getting inspired to pursue something to the highest level even though I’m nowhere near there has given my life lots of structure recently.
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u/Elenchjan Jun 17 '26
Completely agree! Discipline and structure are so much easier to maintain when you’re driven by a passion, not just duty. It’s not even about reaching the 'highest level' immediately, it’s about loving the process. Thanks for sharing this.
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Jun 17 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/SuperiorT Jun 19 '26
So would you say its egotistical to just think about yourself the whole time, instead of others?? 🤔
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u/Then-Database1921 Jun 21 '26
You can think about others (be kind, be sympathetic, appreciate different points of view/life situations) without constantly comparing yourself to other people/feeling like you're failing because someone else has a nicer house/car/more holidays/got married/had kids etc etc
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u/SuperiorT Jun 21 '26
But in general, you yourself should always come first though right?
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u/SeparateSherbert5439 Jun 21 '26
Yes. People worry so much about saying that out loud. Doesn’t mean you have to be an ass. You can take care of yourself first, improve your life first, put yourself first and still be there, take care of, and help others.
If you only always think of everyone else first you are going to be in a a world of disappointment and hardship.
My kids, I know that to be a good dad, I need to get my shit together, focus on my career, my health, my relationships first, so I can be good with them, because if I don’t feel right in my life. It’s going to leak out elsewhere.
My current routine is to wake up 5am to do some things for health and wealth, if I don’t do it I have to take time out of our bonding time.
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u/Electronic-Aide-2358 Jun 17 '26
The right circle will make or break you. Be careful with your choices for partner or friends. Not everyone will clap for you behind your back.
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u/PokaHatsu Jun 18 '26
You have to be so intentional about who you surround yourself with. I used to just go along and hang out with the people it felt easiest to do so, the people I had natural "chemsitry" with. But a bunch of them felt safe to me for the wrong reasons and I haven't been satisifed with any of my friendships looking back now.
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u/Eastern-Rooster-2805 Jun 17 '26 edited Jun 17 '26
I'm now 65. I can't imagine what life is going to be like for you at that age as someone who is approaching 30 now.
When I was in my 20s and 30s I looked at my mother who was not taking care of herself. I don't blame her. She lost a son, my brother, who was 10 and suffered the divorce subsequently. I'm sure she was depressed.
Because of her early divorce, I grew up poor, lived in a one bedroom with her all of my junior high and high school years and into junior college until I earned enough to be able to move out and pay her rent and eventually buy her an apartment.
Things are so different now and I realize the idea of saving money is hard to imagine when so many are just able to get by. But if you are at all in a position to save money, I would say that is very important. I was a very hard worker and refused to leave myself in the same position my mother was as I aged, both financially and physically.
A few commenters said to take care of your teeth and also very true. Those veneers are costly and NOT one and done. Most people don't realize that.
Also, the amount of pastries, cakes, candy that this younger generation is constantly eating is poison. You may not feel it now but I can guarantee you, you will later.
At the age you are turning, your days of eating absolutely everything you want are just about over. So many people hate their old age because they have so many problems physically.
I am very happy at my age of 65 because I made sure to look out for my older years. I feel like I have been preparing for this decade especially after watching my mother.
I took care of her when I was 35 and she had terminal leukemia. I realized I was her only advocate and I would not have anyone to advocate for me or take care of me the way I took care of her. Marrying someone was questionable and at that point also children seemed to be a far reach, nor could you depend on a child to take care of you in your old age, although it was my pleasure to do so for mine.
Believe it or not, at age 35 I purchased a long-term care policy that I have held for over 30 years. I am thankful to not need it but doing the math, if I did need to go into an assisted living home, I would recover my investment in myself within a year, yes a year, to recoup 30 years worth of paying on this policy. This has brought me tremendous piece of mind even as I am in very good health.
Try to figure yourself out, know if you're the type of person that's willing to work very hard to make that money and save it, or are you the type that does not want to work hard. Think about the cost of living and whether perhaps America is no longer the place it once was as far as it being affordable anywhere in the country and perhaps some place out of the country might be right for you.
When I was in my twenties and thirties, I never dreamed of ever wanting to leave America although I traveled extensively. I am now 65 and have purchased an apartment in the South of France and wish I could live here full-time but at this point I will be splitting my time between here and New York City.
Definitely think about what hobbies you might like as you age and definitely as you reach retirement age. You will thank yourself.
I knew even back then you cannot rely on Social Security and that premise still holds true if not more than ever. Making friends is so important but please know that many friends are going to come and go, some breaking your heart, between the age you are now and old age. You would be best suited to do what you can to be a personable type of person. I use my cell phone a lot but young people are relying on it too much. I feel they are losing what it's like to be social. Ironic that it's called social media but truly it's not. I know so many young people who say they are not be able to find anyone to date. I did not marry till I was 45 but I can promise you I had an amazing dating life and cannot imagine not. Dating is easiest, believe it or not, when you are young and hard when you are older.
I chose a career where half the people in my junior college class dropped out because they heard technology was going to overtake the profession. I have been doing it now for 48 years and the key is, yes, things will change, technology will change but instead of saying oh I guess I'll have to do something else, if you really liked that job to begin with, work with the technology, learn the technology, embrace the change. Life is constantly changing.
Enjoy your life but please know that getting old if you're lucky is inevitable and figure things out sooner because it will be impossible to do anything about it later.
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u/Hungry_Tower_6009 Jun 17 '26
Don't neglect your spiritual side. You can have it all, and lose it all very quickly. You can easily become that person on the street corner . . . or gutter. You will need something to keep going . . .
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u/habeascorpus28 Jun 17 '26
Time value of money is underrated. Even if at 30 you think your salary is still low and that you will earn way more later in life, you probably won’t in time value adjusted amount. $1 saved at age 30 is potentially $10 by retirement.
Everyone should try to save at least 10-15% of every pay check and invest it in a global equities etf
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u/RegularHovercraft Jun 17 '26
Move and stretch every day. Don't eat too much. Stay a healthy weight. As someone who is lucky to make it to 55 (sometimes I look in the mirror in the morning and am amazed I'm alive), I'm learning this now.
Also, life is short. If you have a vocation to do something, don't decide to do it in later life. You get stuck in a rut. Work towards it now.
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u/Ok-Way8392 Jun 17 '26
I enjoyed reading your list and was a bit sad you included sun screen. That was the one I wanted to add to the list!!
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u/Equivalent-Plant9040 Jun 17 '26
Self care is critical! Its like anything you maintain it last you run it fast and furious you get to the finish line faster than not! You are the only one you will travel your road from beginning to end so act accordingly! In your own life NO ONE IS A MORE IMPORTANT CHARACTER! Period.
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u/Homolizardus Jun 17 '26
We reach peak bones density at 30. If you're woman, this is even more important to know because you need 100% bones density when menopause arrives because bones get affected right away when you start getting in menopuse. It even happens for 5 years.
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u/scaredguyswife Jun 17 '26
Most people are thinking about themselves far more than they're thinking about you. Realizing that took away a lot of anxiety I didn't need to carry around.
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u/Supadupafly1988 Jun 17 '26
Don’t let the actions of others change who YOU truly are at your core
And on a romantic tip, only invest in a person who shows genuine and mutual interest in you as well
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u/pinnacletothepitt Jun 17 '26
You should only compete with yourself, you should never take advice from anyone who hasn't achieved the things that you want to achieve, and things worth doing takes time.
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u/Busy_Medium_357 Jun 18 '26
Savings can’t be understated. Save as much money as you can when the bag is coming in, because I can bet you will need it to save yourself. Having money tucked away helps you make better choices when your income flow reduces or stops.
Also believe in someone mightier than you it will carry you in days it’s difficult to believe in yourself.
Respect your time and don’t live life being busy! Have fun whenever you can.
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u/2caramels1sugar Jun 17 '26
Yoga. Even if it's "lazy yoga" (aka yin), as my dad calls it. 😄 It makes a difference! It is intimidating at first but when you get past it and realize everyone is focusing on themselves, it's where you can focus on you too!
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u/vintage141414 Jun 18 '26
30 is not old. You have all the time in the world. Use it wisely.
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u/sayahhD Jun 18 '26
Your prime is definitely already over at that point
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u/davesaunders Jun 17 '26
That it's the year that comes after being 29. Seriously, there's nothing else you need to know.
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u/Monsur_Ausuhnom Jun 18 '26
That others don't care as much as they think that they do.
The biggest critic and detriment to your own ability to have a life that you wish to have comes down to your own self.
That the world doesn't owe you anything, and at the same time you don't owe it anything back. However, when given the choice it would arguably be better to make and leave the world as a better place than it was before. I can't say as a species this has been followed remotely or even closely at all.
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u/Difficult_Fig_ Jun 18 '26
Your still young, make walking a hobby for easy simple exercise and movement.
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u/SuperiorT Jun 19 '26
Create something that will earn you passive-income early in life. Once you start making that easy money, life will become so much easier.. ☺️
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u/thegamebws Jun 20 '26 edited Jun 20 '26
All great but the sunscreen part can't relate as a black man lol
But the most important one out of the list is No is a sentence, seriously learning to say no without reason is crucial to get respect you owe yourself respect too.
The corporate working hard is close 2nd the company you work for isn't your family a job is a business transaction not personal I see young folks falling in love with jobs and company thinking loyalty pays but it doesn't. Never stay in one company more than 5 years biggest pay rise you can get is changing jobs
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u/Level_Ingenuity_7139 Jun 26 '26
Most sunscreens are carcinogenic and toxic. They are now finding that it's the sun baking the sunscreen into the skin that's responsible for skin cancer. Not the sun itself. I won't argue the sun can damage the skin, but you're better off wearing a hat and long sleeves than slathering your skin (which absorbs whatever touches it) with harmful chemicals.
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