Embracing my 30s
Many of my peers are afraid of getting older. I’d often hear them complaining about turning 30, but I was never really concerned about it. I knew getting older might seem scary, but I’ve always looked forward to it. Getting older has always reminded me of stability. Wiser, stronger holds on finances, taking better care of your health. Fully embracing the saying, “if you knew better, you’d do better.” Although I’m in my early 30s, I feel as though I’ve already learned so much valuable information, and while most will sound very obvious, some things don’t quite hit home until you experience them.
We all want to set them, but feel some way when we encounter them… boundaries.
One of the most impactful things I’ve learned since turning 30 is setting boundaries. Whether it’s a boundary with yourself to stop indulging in snacks after midnight, or to stop giving that certain friend a ride everywhere who never offers gas money, we need to do better for ourselves and set boundaries where they are needed. Setting boundaries is something I’ve struggled with for as long as I can remember. While I could easily set a boundary with a friend or acquaintance, setting one with family had been extremely difficult. I was very naive in thinking that just because someone is your family, they have your best interest, and I learned the hard way that that’s not always the case. Especially if that person knows this and decides to use that to their advantage. Thankfully, I am married to a man who has no problem with setting boundaries and is very vocal about making sure people know where they stand. This can easily come off as “rude” to some people. However, I’ve noticed that usually if people take offense to a boundary being set, it’s because they are the cause of said boundary. On the opposite end, if you set a boundary and the person apologizes and/or genuinely accepts and upholds the boundary, this is someone you should keep close, because they care and respect you.
You should be saving for that rainy day.
This one is way easier said than done. Especially with the economy. Everything has gotten more expensive, but the majority of the population has not earned pay increases to balance the scales. I’m no financial advisor; however, I have personally experienced the repercussions of not having a savings account to depend on. Since that experience, my husband and I have made sure we always have a set amount of money in our savings account. Every penny counts, so even if you're saving $50 a week, put something aside. When we first got married almost 9 years ago, to help ensure we were putting money aside, we had our jobs automatically deposit money into an account that we did not have immediate access to. You can even try to make saving a bit more interesting. A friend of mine would save all of their $5 bills whenever they came across one. So if they paid for something in cash and their change included a $5 bill, they would automatically save that bill in a jar at home. If you have any other creative ways to save, let me know in the comments!
Do something nice for yourself.
To reward yourself for all of the saving you’ve been doing, do something nice for yourself. Take a staycation, buy that book you’ve been wanting, treat yourself to dinner. We only have one life to live, and when life is LIFE-ING, taking time for yourself will be worth it. Doing something nice doesn’t always have to break the bank. I’ve recently discovered a hand and foot mask by Aveeno. They were $2.99 a piece, and after 10 minutes, the results were just as good, if not better than getting a pedicure. My feet and hands were so smooth I instantly felt better! Find a coffee or bookshop and take an hour to indulge in an overpriced latté or a new book. Whether big or small, you’ll thank yourself later.
Lastly, when you love, love hard.
I must admit, reading romance novels has definitely gotten to me. If anyone ever tells you you can’t learn from reading romance, they are lying. Reading about other people’s relationships, whether it’s fact or fiction, will make you self-analyze how you love and are being loved. My husband and I have been together for 12 years, and we are constantly learning new things about each other. While some of those things might be exciting or irritating, we still choose to love one another, no matter what. The world can be a lot to navigate by yourself, but having your person can make a tough situation or time bearable. I constantly remind myself how grateful I am to have found my person, and no matter the situation, as long as we have each other, we can continue to navigate the world together.
Your 30’s don’t have to be scary. Have an open mind, be excited to change, and when the rough times come, try to find something you can learn from them.
🤎 Angel
Target Party 🎯
If you know me, you know I shop at Target probably once a week. I hadn’t planned on doing anything for my birthday, but my daughter wasn’t too happy about that. So I put something together quick and it resulted in a super cute Target themed party. We also had amazing Chinese food and a super delicious cake from our local Japanese bakery.
