The new role you have as a money earning adult is going well and you are feeling quite confident. Until one day things go wrong. You lose your job, have no more money coming in and are in debt.
Before you get to this point, here is what you can do
Have a Backup Plan
A back up plan may sound too drastic when you are in your 20’s and retirement is very far down the line. However, it is never too early to start thinking about what will happen when you are unable to work. Due to old age, illness or losing your job.
Do not dismiss putting money away for an emergency, even if you’re starting late with just a little bit of money in a high-interest savings account. Do it.
Also, think about switching careers even when you have just started. Think about what you can do if the company you work for closes, or they make you redundant. Think about adding more qualifications under your belt. So that you can move quickly and easily to another job or be the person the company is reluctant to fire.
Have the thought in the back of your head, even as you work full time and are building your present career that things can and do change. Do not be complacent in your current job. Try to advance while still in your 20s and 30s because once the 40s approach, complacency can set in, really quick. And can give rise to a feeling that the years of competing for a better lifestyle are behind you.
Start thinking about the long-term now. Where will you be in 5, 10, 20 years from now? Have a plan as once you reach your 40s, life will have happened. You may be marrying, have children and your parents or guardian maybe retired or nearing retirement. Will you be their primary care giver while also having kids at home?
If you are happy with your current life, that’s terrific! If that’s not the case, and the only reason for not doing more is because you’re just too comfortable and don’t want to get out of your comfort zone. You may want to rethink that. As it is not too early to start thinking about starting a business or changing careers altogether. If you have that opportunity.
Take Yourself Seriously
With age comes wisdom, so they say, but for some it seems to take a lot longer. Mainly because back grounds and personalities are different. In the most, many people as a student are supported by parents or guardians and the switch from being a dependent to being independent may take long.
Kudos to you if you were halfway to taking yourself seriously as a student and already planning and dividing your time between different tasks so as to cope with daily student life and the normal life of surviving.
Once out of the student category and into the independent adult category you are expected to be savvy and capable of making good life and financial decisions. And generally, well on your way to starting to work your way through some of your life goals.
Take yourself seriously as quickly as possible so that you are ready for the new struggles that will come your way as an adult.
Take Your Money Seriously
Most people will reach their peak earning potential in their 40s or early 50s and will have access to bigger amount of money. Which also means more and bigger cars, fancier clothes, and private schools for children sports, music and dance classes and eating out more often.
Life gets busier, and it’s just easier to let these expenses grow until they’re out of control. When you begin to earn your own money, it is quite easy for your lifestyle to spiral out of control. Especially if you do not take your money seriously.
Taking your money seriously means that you know where it is coming from, where it will go and how you can keep some of it for an emergency.
Practice Good Habits
Take care of your health. And there is no better time to start than now before life changes and becomes super busy. With work and children and other adult responsibilities.
By taking care of your health now will mean that you are giving yourself a chance to tackle problems as they come because you are strong and healthy.
Not taking care of self now will become very difficult later especially after having children. When life will begin to revolve around them.
Set aside some money for personal hobbies or self-care. It is essential to have a life apart from your professional life and family life.
If you are happy with your current life and health, that’s terrific but remember that if the only reason for not doing more is because you are just too comfortable and don’t want to get out of your comfort zone, you might want to seriously rethink that.
