Almost everyone has a bucket list, a goal tracker, a project planner. Whatever you call it, it helps you focus on the target and keeps your dreams alive. The clock is always ticking, but it is never too late to chase your goals. So, here are some of the things you should encourage yourself to do before entering the ‘life starts at 40’ stage! Consider it a pregame to the best years of your life.
1. Start a Retirement Plan
Settling down may seem like it’s still eons away from now, but there’s no such thing as “too early” when it comes to preparing for the future. You want your retirement to be as comfortable as can be, and one way to ensure that is by laying out a concrete plan that spans your 20s to 30s. When your retirement years arrive, finances will never have to be a problem! Your scheme may include a fund, pension, and even a funeral plan.
2. Travel to Your Dream Place
Traveling is always easier and more enjoyable when your energy and spirits are high. Take advantage of your youthful drive by going to new and unfamiliar places. Learn a different language, way of life, interact with a diverse group of people and absorb a whole new culture.
3. Learn Something New
It could be an instrument, a recipe, a sport, and more. As you age, you may think that the desire to learn shrinks. However, it doesn’t have to be the case. Expanding your horizon doesn’t come with an expiration date. Even if you are way past being a student, learning is lifelong.
4. Get an Executive Checkup
An unfortunate and inevitable fact of life is that as you age, your health may deteriorate. Have every vital part of your health checked and prevent any foreseeable illness. Detect and address health issues at the onset, so it doesn’t wreak havoc during your golden years.
5. Build a Balanced Routine
By this time, you should spend the bulk of your time figuring out the best balance between personal life and career, as well as how to finance your wants versus your needs. Plus, structure your schedule to manage and maximize your time well. This also includes your habits and daily agenda. It is easier to hit goals right on target when you find that equilibrium.
6. Start Investing
The sooner you invest, the sooner your money will grow. Make the hustle worthwhile by putting it into channels that help you weather storms that come your way. Setting and working towards long-term goals reap many benefits that allow you to enjoy your seniority to the fullest. Building wealth takes time, and there are a lot of strategies to make it happen while you are working a 9-5 in your 20s. For example, mutual funds and real estate will reap the rewards in the future while still allowing you to enjoy the perks of the present.
7. Buy Property
Investing in real estate may be the most brilliant move you make in your quarter-life. Not only are you setting up a home, but you are also securing a financially stable future. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a three-story townhouse. In fact, buying a condominium loft would be more realistic, yet it shows the highest rise in price. Boasting an easy-to-maintain façade as well as world-class amenities, you can never go wrong with a condo. Whether you intend to reside in it immediately or rent it out so you can enjoy it eventually, a condo loft is a wise investment.
Tick off every item on this list one by one and achieve financial freedom, peace of mind, and a worry-free retirement—at whatever age you choose to settle down.