About to turn 30. Any advice?

greenface

have a big wee before you go to bed early . you will make it until almost morning

Lomcevak

I did kind of assume that posting on the Savings & Investments section meant you wanted financial advice...

Is there any advice you would give to yourself aside from financial advice?

Take risks, but always have a plan B. I'm generally too risk-averse.

Don't commute.

Interesting that there are a few mentions of investing in your career (which as a result will require an increase in time spent working). How much time did you spend with your families when they where young and would you have spent more time with them if you could have?

I wouldn't agree at all that investing in your career automatically means spending more time at work: if it does, you're doing things wrong.

Use the time you do spend at work wisely, and focus your efforts on building skills and experiences that are in demand. Make sure you're doing new and harder things, not the same thing over and over - many people with "ten year's experience" have one year, repeated ten times. If you don't have opportunities, leave. Money's not the only thing that compounds with time.

I switched company when my kids were born to one with great support for flexible working and remote working (we work a 9-day fortnight and managers get penalized if staff have to work overtime ) so I have flexibility to spend plenty of time with them. Do some study in the evenings once they are in bed though, but i'm not really one for much TV.

Alexland

geeovana wrote: »

How much time did you spend with your families when they where young and would you have spent more time with them if you could have?

As a male my colleagues were surprised when I applied for a modified work pattern (4 days week of 9.25 hour days) and took a pay cut to buy 74 more hours (8 days) of annual leave each year. I have been doing that pattern for a couple of years now and found it works well. Most of our annual leave is used on childcare so it is rare we have days off together.

Our toddler son will soon start at nursery school for a few government funded mornings each week but I am continuing the work pattern as we have another due to be born at around the same time.

So far we have not spent a penny on childcare. At around 18 months buying a 6 month entry pass to the local softplay can be very good value. During the week I am often the only man at these places which can feel a bit weird. I think some of them suspect I am on the dole or my wife is dead.

Alex

bostonerimus

Do a detailed budget so you know exactly where you are spending and then you can control/reduce your outgoings. This is even more important when you have children. Try to save at least 20% of your gross salary to a pension/ISA.

pjcox2005

It’s hard at times, keep talking, help each other and book some fun things to enjoy life.

Budget but as long as you save each month and contribute to a pension you’ll be fine.

Not for all but I shifted to a 4 day week, to spend an extra day with the kids. It’s great, and when they’re at school I’ll keep the day off to do my hobbies. Career is important but it’s definitely not everything.

YBR

When you get a pay rise, set up a standing order to put the difference into a savings account so you don't automatically change how you live. The amount you save will accelerate over time.

PuzzledDave

Congratulations !

My advice would be invest heavily into your spouse. Spend as much time with them as you can both pre & post baby, consider when was the last time they were able to drop everything and do their own hobbies/see their friends without having to consider the baby - make sure they get this.
Ensure you carve out some time every week for them to know that the baby - whilst its impact on your day to day life is huge - that you know the work your spouse does and how they make your life easier.
Don't let your spouse do all the baby work - you must do enough so that they don't have to be thinking about "when did baby last eat ? sleep ? learn ?" all the time.
Parenting is a 24 hour, 7 day a week job - don't think "Well I spent 2 hours commuting and 8 hours at work - why should I do anything when I get home ?".

More than simple financial investment advice - your spouse is far, far more important when you stop being a couple and become three or more person family.

If you fail at this, then there is no financial advise that will make up the emotional or financial losses from a split.



... I did in some ways fail at this but thankfully not fatally so. I hope you do better than me.

geeovana

Many thanks for all the great advice. Very much appreciated.

ruperts

Have you planned for when parental leave ends? Most people either put the kid in childcare or one partner stops work/works part time, or a combination of both. Either way it's expensive if you're used to two full time incomes. Other than that, despite what those parents who feel the need to have the latest and greatest of everything would have you believe, babies needn't cost very much at all. Second hand, hand me downs, budget ranges, they're all fine.

Be prepared for the concepts of free time and me time to completely vanish from your life for several years. But try to enjoy it because those years will go quick.

McKneff

PuzzledDave wrote: »

Congratulations !

My advice would be invest heavily into your spouse. Spend as much time with them as you can both pre & post baby, consider when was the last time they were able to drop everything and do their own hobbies/see their friends without having to consider the baby - make sure they get this.
Ensure you carve out some time every week for them to know that the baby - whilst its impact on your day to day life is huge - that you know the work your spouse does and how they make your life easier.
Don't let your spouse do all the baby work - you must do enough so that they don't have to be thinking about "when did baby last eat ? sleep ? learn ?" all the time.
Parenting is a 24 hour, 7 day a week job - don't think "Well I spent 2 hours commuting and 8 hours at work - why should I do anything when I get home ?".

More than simple financial investment advice - your spouse is far, far more important when you stop being a couple and become three or more person family.

If you fail at this, then there is no financial advise that will make up the emotional or financial losses from a split.



... I did in some ways fail at this but thankfully not fatally so. I hope you do better than me.

This is one of the best posts i have read on MSE for a long time.
There would be happier families and less divorces if eveyone heeded it, especially as it looks as if is from a male.
Thank you young man.

ANNIE
(McKneff)