Am I Too Far Behind Financially

Did I Already Miss the Window?

You’re in your 30s. You make decent money. But you have no retirement account, your student loans just kicked back in, and whenever you scroll, someone else just bought a house or had a baby.

And all you can think is, “I’m falling behind.”

• Should I already own a house?

• Am I supposed to have more saved?

• Did I mess this up somewhere?

You're in your 30s and:

• Your savings account barely has an emergency fund.

• Your retirement account (if you have one) is under $10K.

• You still owe student loan payments that feel like rent.

• And home prices feel like a cruel joke.

It’s not that you aren’t working.

You are!

But the money disappears.

You keep telling yourself, “Once I get that next raise, I’ll finally get ahead.”But the goalpost keeps moving.

And the worst part?It feels like everyone else has it figured out - but you’re still guessing.

First, let me just say, this was the newsletter that 60% of people voted I write about, so clearly you’re not alone. Clearly not everyone has this figured out.

I want to try and do two things with this email.

1. Acknowledge the facts that make you feel like you’re behind while also calling attention to the fact that you might not be.

2. I want to empower you so you feel there is potential to change your situation.

Still with me?

Let’s Start With The Facts

1. 55% of millennials (ages 27-42) have less than $10k saved for retirement.

2. The average student loan balance for someone in their 30s is $33,000.

3. Only 43% of people under the age of 35 own their homes.

All of these things, combined with two recessions, make it really difficult to get ahead,d especially when comparing your status with people who grew up in a different time.

Now you layer in 5 minutes of social media scrolling.

• Everyone has a six-figure job

• Everyone owns a modern farmhouse

• Everyone’s on vacation in Italy or Greece, drinking wine in linen shirts

And I’m not going to take away hard work that many people do to get where they are.

But, at best, that’s a small % of the population, and most likely you’re not seeing the credit card debt that is tied to many of these vacations.

I don’t share this to give you an excuse to make poor financial decisions or play the victim. No victims allowed here!

I share this because in order to make progress with our life, we have to live in reality.

And the reality -

There is a 100% chance that some people are doing much worse than you and…

There is a 100% chance that some people will have it much easier than you..

So stop comparing yourself to other people, because neither of those things gets you the life you want.

Instead, consider competing with yourself. Can you put yourself in a better position to succeed by 2026?

Yes, you’re starting later than you hoped. But later is not never. Starting late with clarity is better than coasting with no plan.

The Plan

Did you know that if you max out your 401 (k), your IRA and your HSA, you could be a millionaire in 15 years?

These are big goals, but it means that you could start saving for retirement at 50 and become a millionaire for the cost of $2,900/mo.

And you don’t have to be a millionaire to retire comfortably!

Did you know that if you just make bi-weekly payments instead of monthly payments on your mortgage, you can pay off your house in 25 years?

That means you could buy a house at 40 and pay it off by 65. And that’s if you don’t make any extra payments!

I’m not encouraging you to piss away your 20’s and 30’s, I’m just saying focus on leveling up!

Here are 4 small things I’d do to level up:

1 - Make a budget - Next to everything you spend money on write down if it gives you energy or steals energy. If it steals energy and isn’t a bill you have to pay, WHY ARE YOU SPENDING MONEY ON THAT??

2 - Curate your content - Next time you scroll, make a note of whether something gives you energy or steals energy. If it gives you energy, like it. If it steals energy, click the … on the bottom right and select not interested. Your emotions will dictate your success.

3 - Read - Are you spending more on junk than your future? If you’re in your 20s or 30s you have the ability to generate a lot of income. Read books that will help you increase your income. There are soooo many out there, be resourceful, go find some! Invest in your success and your income.

4 - Start small and celebrate - Maybe that’s automating your first investment. Maybe it’s $50 per month. You started, you’re building the momentum. Maybe that’s attacking your first debt and making an additional payment on it. Maybe it’s cutting up that credit card so you stop using it! Cut it up and celebrate.

We’re all imperfect people.

The devil is constantly trying to convince you that you’re not enough. And if you’re feeling self-conscious about your finances, the devil is going to pick at that scab over and over.

Even though I paid off $100k in debt, own my home, and have no debt. The devil still comes after me.

Which is why my final piece of advice is to start your day in prayer.

50% of marriages end in divorce.

1/1,500 marriages that pray every day together end in divorce.

If God can work miracles in marriage, what makes you think he can’t do the same with your finances?