Section 5: Milestones by Decade
This decade is marked by momentum. You’re no longer preparing for the race—you’re running it.
This decade is often called the “messy middle”. Your income may grow, but so do your commitments. You might be juggling a job, a home, young children with school, sports, and weekend schedules that never seem to slow down. It can feel overwhelming, and sometimes even impossible.
You’re not alone. Most older adults have lived through this season, and even if they made it look easy on the outside, they felt this same strain, too.
Personal Story Time: I remember feeling the weight of the “messy middle”; juggling work, parenting, and everything in between. One night, during our usual prayer time, as I was putting my children to bed, we went around sharing what we were thankful for. I’m ashamed to say I was struggling to feel grateful in that moment, as I was feeling overwhelmed by the world. Then my daughter said, “God, I am thankful for taste.” Her words kind of caught me off guard and nearly brought me to tears. Taste…?
This was a sacred nudge. A reminder of all the small, beautiful gifts around me that I was too consumed to notice. That night, I realized how often we overlook life’s quiet blessings. The ones that seem small, and maybe even insufficient, but paint our world in extraordinary ways.
So, believe it or not, this chapter IS short, even if it doesn’t feel that way right now. Remember to breathe, be kind to yourself, and notice the beauty in even the small everyday things, because you will likely look back with fondness on this decade.
Financial Foundations in the Messy Middle
This decade doesn’t come with neat edges. It’s layered with larger incomes, with new responsibilities and pressures. However, progress here isn’t about perfection—it’s about direction.
Mistakes can carry more weight now, yet so do wiser decisions. Comparison tries to rush you, but maturity invites steadiness.
If you’re just starting, you’re right on time. Most financial journeys begin in this decade. As the saying goes, “The best time to start was 10 years ago, but the second-best time is today.”
Your 30s offer a chance to build with clarity. You can still dream big, but now you’re learning to build slowly and wisely, one brick at a time, with more precision. You’re crafting not just a future, but a legacy that lasts.
To-Do List For Your 30s — Strategic Moves to Build Lasting Wealth
Create or update your money plan and review it yearly.
You’re not aiming for perfection—just consistency. This course/workbook is perfect for that!
Create and learn to follow a budget.
This decade is dubbed the “messy middle” for a reason. Expenses of everyday life can quickly add up during this time, and if you’re not careful, you will be broke before you know it. Even if you haven’t had to budget yet, now is a good time to learn how, because life and responsibilities can quickly sneak up on you. Live by a money system so you’re not reacting to financial stress, but stewarding with clarity.
Continue investing in your financial literacy.
Staying uneducated about money is one of the most expensive mistakes you can make. Financial confusion can begin to compound with age. That is why continuing to invest in your financial literacy is so beneficial. Treat financial education like a standing appointment. Block out time each week to learn, ask questions, and refine what you thought you knew. This is crafting your legacy, one lesson at a time.
If you’re not sure where to begin, start here. Browse this site as the links provided are curated to help you sharpen your financial vision and deepen your learning.
Suggested starting points for your 30s:
There is still time, so be sure to learn about the FIRE Community, especially Coast FI at this time. Understanding these options now can expand what’s possible later.
Listen to podcasts, read books, follow mentors, and take courses (like this one!) to fast-track your growth.
🔸 Check out the Recommended Books page. Many of the books and videos listed are available for free on YouTube.
🔸 Visit the Definition page to grasp essentials like: assets vs. liabilities, and good debt vs. bad debt.
🔸 Start shifting your mindset. Begin exploring legal ways to write off expenses.
Learn to live cheaply and mindfully.
This is especially important during this decade. Find ways to reduce spending, as this will help give you the cushion you may need to get through this “messy middle”, and it may allow you to increase your savings, accelerating your path to financial freedom. Even if FIRE is not your goal, researching the FIRE community can provide valuable insights and ideas to help.
A few reminders for cost-effective living:
🔸Aim to keep housing costs under 25% of your gross income, or no more than 1/3 of your gross income. This should include principal, interest, taxes, insurance, and any HOA fees. Some even suggest including utilities as well, which will help you afford to invest more, accelerating your path to wealth.
🔸Visit the Groceries and Gas page for other cost-effective living tips.
Automate what you can.
Life gets hectic, especially during this “messy middle”. Automate what you can to help keep your finances steady. Consider auto-pay for savings, investments, and bill payments if you're comfortable doing so.
🔸 Bonus Tip: Using a credit card with useful reward points for some of your automated bills can offer extra security and perks, but DO NOT use credit cards if you cannot pay off the full balance every month, as this debt will undo all your gains.
Look into Estate Planning and/or Financial Professionals.
Depending on your net worth or if you have dependents, this may be the time to consider these services.
Focus on maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Remember, your health is your largest asset, and for a lot of us, this is when we begin feeling the effects life has had on us. Ensure your wealth is not getting drained by medical bills.
Begin early conversations with your children about money.
Legacy isn’t just what you leave, it’s what you teach.
Goals by 40
Understand the benefits and drawbacks of the FIRE movement (especially Coast FI).
Time is beginning to run out, making FIRE much harder to accomplish, if you find that is something you’re interested in.
Be consistently investing at least 15% — 25% of your GROSS income.
This habit will continue to help set the foundation for lasting financial freedom, allowing you to still benefit significantly from compound interest. Choose your future with every paycheck.
Have at least 3x your annual income invested.
Work toward this milestone as a signal that your financial foundation is firm and your future is increasingly free.
However, if you’re closer to only 2x, do not get discouraged. You’re still in a strong position, especially if you’re actively investing 15–25% of your gross income and minimizing high-interest debt. Keep going, and you’ll be surprised how compound interest has a way of turning small seeds into mighty harvests.