Your 30s is when adulting really happens. Follow these tips to thrive in your prime.

Turning 30 is a big milestone in life. According to at least one report, scientists have said that people fully become “adults” when they hit their 30s. 

While renewing your Identity Card (compulsory for Singaporeans and Permanent Residents), applying for a Built-to-Order (BTO) flat and taking a serious LinkedIn headshot are just a few signs that adulting is becoming real, entering your 30s may also be a wake-up call to re-evaluate things in life, particularly in the finance department. 

In your 20s, you probably used to make non-essential purchases without a second thought, but you’ll now stop to think if you really need another pair of trainers, or a new mobile phone when your current device is working fine. Specifically, you might be asking yourself how such non-discretionary purchases would push you further away from your financial goals.

This coming-of-age doesn’t mean you have to freak out and hit the panic button. Embrace this milestone and use the opportunity to assess areas in your life that need improvement. Let’s figure out adulthood!

 

Start on a clean slate

Before you consider buying your first apartment or starting a family, assess your debt level. Strive to become debt-free. Owing nothing and having money in the bank will make it a lot easier to face financial surprises – which new homes and kids are known for. You may have a student loan, credit card payments or other forms of outstanding debts carried forward from your 20s, but don’t be disheartened. While there’s no easy way out of debt, there are free tools and useful articles that will teach you effective ways to eliminate debt.

 

Budget right

Budgeting is an important skill for a grown-up as it helps to instil discipline when it comes to spending and saving for your financial goals. The 50-30-20 budgeting principle makes it easy to divide your income into different pots. Use 50% of your income for essential needs such as food, transportation and bills. Set aside the next 30% for your wants which may include entertainment, spa treatments and holidays. The last 20% of your income should go to savings such as your retirement fund, emergency money or housing down payment.

 

Have an emergency fund

Depending on your financial situation, it’s recommended that you have at least three to six months of your monthly salary stowed away as an emergency fund for things like severe illness or periods of unemployment. The easiest way to start saving in a disciplined manner (if you haven’t already) is to set up an emergency-withdrawal-only savings account. Put a portion of your monthly salary into this account. This is one of the simplest and most manageable ways to build your savings while having enough for your essentials, bills and the occasional splurge. But don’t just set funds in a savings account when you can apply for Singlife Account, an insurance savings plan where you can earn interest and have the flexibility to make top-ups and withdrawals, with no lock-in period and fees. The Singlife Account also provides life insurance cover in the event of death and terminal illness.  

 

Reassess your protection needs

Now that you’re entering your prime earning years, you may be thinking about protecting your most valuable asset — yourself. Here are some basic insurance policies to consider: health insurance, life insurance and disability insurance.

Health insurance: Every Singaporean and PR is covered under MediShield Life, a basic healthcare insurance plan administered by the Central Provident Fund (CPF) Board. Aside from having adequate health coverage, it’s a good idea to look into the other two forms of protection cover too. Here’s why…

Life insurance: Your 30s is typically when you’ll conquer milestones like getting married and having children, and you may also have to start supporting your ageing parents. Having life insurance ensures that if anything unexpected, such as death or terminal illness, happens to you, your dependants will be protected against financial loss.

Disability insurance: Severe disability is something all Singaporeans and PRs from age 30 have basic coverage for. You may think that severe disability only affects seniors, but the truth is that people in their 30s can also become severely disabled due to a serious accident or illnesses like stroke. The national CareShield Life scheme provides some financial support should you become severely disabled. Private insurers, like Singlife, offer supplements that give higher and additional payouts on top of your monthly CareShield Life payouts. 

Insurance is a long-term commitment. The plan you choose should be geared towards your protection needs and affordability.

Don’t just save, invest too

It’s never too early to start planning your retirement. In fact, you shouldn’t wait till you’re in your 30s as you may have more financial responsibilities by then. The first step is to figure out your retirement goals. Simply use a retirement calculator for an estimation of how much to stash away for old age based on your ideal retirement lifestyle. Once you have an estimate, you can look for a suitable savings or investment plan that meets your needs. 

If you like the idea of earning interest with your capital guaranteed, consider applying for a Singlife Account. It’s an insurance savings plan that gives you up to 3.5%p.a. for your first S$10,000 deposited. With no lock-in period or fees, you can also make top-ups or withdrawals whenever you want. Returns are calculated daily and credited monthly. You can also track how you’re doing via the Singlife app.

There are many ways to go about investing but pick a product that gives you flexibility and greater control over your money. For instance, Singlife Savvy Invest II is a whole life, regular premium investment plan that combines investment opportunities with insurance protection. It allows you to invest in portfolios managed by world-class investment experts and explore a variety of funds, where you can choose to receive dividends in cash or reinvest them to further grow your investment.

Additionally, you can enjoy a Welcome Bonus of up to 60% of your basic regular premium when you sign up.

Alternatively, consult your financial adviser representative about a suitable plan or, drop us your details using the form below, and we’ll get in touch with you to guide you towards making an informed decision.

Thirty and thriving

Most people spend their 20s figuring out their identity and what they want to do with life. With every passing year, you may gain a better perspective of who you are and become more comfortable in your own skin. That’s why your 30s are about doing what feeds your soul. You may no longer say “yes” to everything and everyone due to FOMO (Fear of Missing Out). You may have learnt to set boundaries and choose what’s good for you. Most importantly, you may have learnt to prioritise your happiness and overall wellbeing.

^Notes

^{Terms and conditions apply.}

^{These policies are underwritten by Singapore Life Ltd.}

^{This material is published for general information only and does not have regard to the specific investment objectives, financial situation and particular needs of any specific person.}

^{You should read the Product Summary and seek advice from a financial adviser representative before making a commitment to purchase the product.}

^{As this product has no savings or investment feature, there is no cash value if the policy ends or if the policy is terminated prematurely.}

^{As buying a life insurance policy is a long-term commitment, an early termination of the policy usually involves high costs and the surrender value, if any, that is payable to you may be zero or less than the total premium paid.}

^{Buying a health insurance policy that is not suitable for you may impact your ability to finance your future healthcare needs.}

^{Investments in this plan are subject to investment risks including the possible loss of the principal amount invested. The value of the units, and the income accruing to the units, may rise or fall. Past performance of the ILP sub-fund(s) is not necessarily indicative of future performance.}

^{We hereby disclose to you that:}

^{(a) Your relevant money as defined under Payment Services Act (“PSA”) from Singlife Account will be held by us on behalf of you in a trust account opened with a safeguarding institution;}

^{(b) Your relevant money from Singlife Account will be deposited in a trust account together with, and commingled with, the relevant money received by us from our other Singlife Account customers;}

^{(c) There are no foreseeable risks of such commingling and you are able to withdraw your account value anytime via FAST;}

^{(d) The relevant money in the trust account with the safeguarding institution is insured by SDIC. Pursuant to section 23(7)(b) of the PSA, the customers’ relevant money deposited in a trust account are not liable to be taken in execution under an order or any court process, such as in insolvency proceedings. In the event of the insolvency of the safeguarding institution, the Monetary Authority of Singapore may make a regulation under section 103 of the PSA on the manner in which the customers’ relevant money must be treated and dealt with; and}

^{(e) The safeguarding institution is not liable to compensate you for your claims against Singlife.}

^{This advertisement has not been reviewed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore.}
 

^{Protected up to specified limits by SDIC.}
 

^{Information is accurate as at 13 October 2022.}