We are still a few years out of hitting the age of “dirty thirty”. If you are still in your 20s attending college or bouncing around to different jobs trying to find your career job, this article is for you!
This is our list of must-have millennial goals. Your 20s are a very important decade of your life where you have a good balance between freedom and responsibilities. It’s a great age for getting things done before life holds you down.
1) Make a budget
Asking your parents for gas money is in your rearview mirror. It’s time to understand how important money is, and how to treat it as such.
Any successful business has a budget so why shouldn’t you? It’s time to learn how to budget!
A budget is a great way to track how much you spend and help you get a much better grasp on what you can and can’t afford. A budget will also help you not miss any payments on credit cards, student loans, or bill or risk your financial future.
If your tech savvy and want to budget online use a company like Personal Capital or Mint.
2) Demolish your debt
If you went to school you probably have a significant amount of debt.
Your 20s are when you need to focus on demolishing debt! Aggressively attack your debt, make it your bi*ch. You want to clear your debt as soon as possible and start living debt free.
Living debt free opens the gates to living financially free. If you are interested in learning more about refinancing your student loans we highly recommend SoFi as your go-to refinance company.
3) Travel with friends
You will never have as much freedom as you do in your 20s.
Take advantage of any opportunity you have to travel and experience life. Go to new places, try new foods, and widen your horizons. Plan a “friend-cation” because, in reality, this is the only time in your life you can make it a reality.
Using sites like Travel Advisor or Booking is a great way to save money and get the best experience possible.
4) Save Lot’s of Money
Most millennials overlook this goal before they turn thirty. It’s a real shame because in your 20s you are probably able to save the most!
Start saving for your next big purchase. Too many millennials are purchasing things with credit and taking out loans on things they can’t afford in the first place.
Besides a house, if you cannot afford to pay cash you don’t deserve to own it. After destroying your debt saving is the next step.
Here is a mega list of over 100 ways to save money. You can also use programs like Ebates or Ibotta to save on your everyday purchases.
5) Learn to cook
If your parents did not teach you to cook while growing up now is your chance. Learn how to make a few dishes off a site like YouTube.
Learning to cook is also a great way to stay healthy, save money, and impress others.
If you are struggling with meal prepping or knowing what to buy a company like $5 meal plan is worth checking out.
6) Take care of your physical self
You better get your health in check before you turn thirty! The older you get the slower your metabolism gets.
Your 20s are a perfect time in your life to get into good habits for a healthy life. Habits take a while to form so starting early is a savvy move.
Working out does not have to be a chore, make it fun! Some things we do to change it up: Tennis, biking, hiking, running, basketball, playing catch, walking the dog, skiing, swimming, and more.
I committed to getting my health in check last year and lost over 40lbs.
7) Learn how to take care of your car
You can’t just play dumb everytime your car leaves you on the side of the road. Get to know your vehicle and how to take care of it. Repairing your car can cost you a lot of money!
Knowing how to diagnose your car and repair most things on your own can save you thousands. Oil changes, breaks, tires are all things you should be able to do on your own before you turn 30.
8) Get a credit card
Building your credit score should not be overlooked. My parents were actually kind enough to get me a credit card in high school. Not only did I learn how to be responsible with my finances but also started building credit at a young age.
My credit score currently hovers around 800 which is in the “excellent” category. Having a solid credit score can save you tens of thousands of dollars over your lifetime.
If you want a free app to help you start tracking your credit score try out Credit Sesame, it has helped us a ton over the years.
You can always check out these best credit cards for millennials also to get pointed in the right direction.
P.S. – NEVER ever carry credit card debt, it’s the worst debt you can have!
9) Find a significant other
“Playing the field” while you are in your 20s is important. You need to know what type of person you are looking for so when they do come around your ready.
Having a real relationship is very important in personal development. You learn a ton about yourself and how to get along with others.
Also having a serious relationship oftentimes leads to marriage which is a huge blessing! Take some time to figure yourself out and start thinking about REAL relationships, not those one night stands.
10) Finish school
Education is something no one can ever take away from you, so make sure you FINISH.
College is expensive, decide if it’s worth the investment before attending. Whether it is a trade school, community college, or university it’s important to get it out of the way early on in life. It will significantly improve your earning potential and set up the rest of your life.
If you have not started school yet no worries, it’s never too late to go back!
11) Make an emergency fund
We totally agree with Dave Ramsey on his first baby step. Everyone MUST save an emergency fund to ensure you can handle anything life throws at you.
Stop spending money like it grows off trees and start saving for your financial future.
Normally emergency funds are $1,000 but having more than that to handle life’s financial emergencies is never a bad idea.
12) Start a side hustle
Hopefully, in your 20s you have heard what a side hustle is.
Now is the time to try new business ventures. Start a blog, e-commerce business, clean houses, freelance, flip products on eBay and Amazon, or provide a service.
A side hustle is a great way to get compensated for doing things you already love to do. Financial freedom and wealth are made much easier by multiple sources of income.
Here are some excellent way to make extra money working from home.
13) Learn to say “no”
It’s important in your 20s to learn how to set and maintain boundaries for yourself.
You have to be true to yourself and not let others push you around in any direction. Know what’s best for you and keep that your number one priority.
In your 20s you have lot’s of opportunities, by the time you’re a thirty your life is more set in stone.
14) Live within your means
Please make this one of your top millennial goals, learn how to live within your means!
Don’t fall into the Millennial Money Trap like so many others. If you already have debt why are you continuing to finance your life away? Stop trying to keep up with your friends let them pass you by.
Learning how to be happy with what you already have can change your life and your bank accounts.
Here are 13 frugal living habits that will help you live the life you want without ruining your financial future.
15) Build and grow your value system
Having a good moral value system is very important in living a good life. If you don’t believe in God or have not been to church in a few years, give it another try!
Through college Brittany and I rarely went to church. We felt we did not belong and could never find one we enjoyed.
It wasn’t until I fell into a deep depression that I realized how important God is in our life. From that point on God has filled my life with so much love and joy.
My faith has never been stronger and I am living a purposeful and meaningful life.
16) Go to the doctor
Seriously, stop putting it off and start going to your doctors again.
There is a reason preventive care is covered so well under insurance plans now. With your health, it’s always better to be proactive.
An annual checkup and keep you and your doctor in the loop on your health. Get your teeth cleaned, your dental hygiene is very important to your overall health.
17) Find your real friends
How many “friends” do you have that will bail you out in any situation your in? Pick you up after drinking too much at a party? Can be totally open and honest about anything?
Finding real friends can be a challenge, but once you find them life improves drastically. Learn who your real friends are and focus on those relationships.
When you get older you will soon realize you really only need a few close friends.
18) Figure out what makes you happy
Happiness is found within yourself. It’s something that is figured out over time. Your 20s are a perfect time to experience new things, travel, eat, party, etc.
Figure out the most important things that make you happy and surround yourself with them. Learn early on a good balance in life with work and play.
19) Make mistakes
Now is the time, we are still young. We have made many mistakes in our lives and learned from each one of them.
Never look at a mistake as a failure unless you don’t learn from it. Our greatest accomplishments will come from making mistakes so put yourself out there!
Life is an adventure! Failures are the best lessons you can learn in life.
20) Read more
We have recently found ourselves reading much more than we use to. You can learn so much from just picking up a book or reading your favorite articles online.
It’s extremely relaxing and helps you fall asleep. Try to get into a good habit of reading a book before bed. Knowledge is power so read away!
21) Document your life
We have been lucky enough to travel quite a bit before we turn thirty. Start documenting your life. Take pictures and videos when you go to a new place.
Your memory fades over time so document your life more so you can reminisce on the good times.
Learn how to edit simple video clips into a full vacation documentary. We LOVE looking back on our travels!
22) Create your own Millennial Goals list
What do you want to do with your life? What is your calling? How are you going to positively impact the world? Start dreaming big and writing down your goals.
Every New Years check in with yourself and the goals you set the previous years.
23) Get a dog
Dogs are scientifically proven to increase your happiness and overall well-being. This would apply for all pets, but we are dog lovers through and through.
Our dog, Charlie, has been in our lives for almost 8 years now. Dogs are a great way to learn how to be responsible and take care of others, helping you in all types of relationships.
If your feeling down your dog will always be there with unconditional love. Research different dog breeds before just jumping into owning a dog.
24) Join a church
We struggled after moving out of our parent’s house and going to college to get back into going to church regularly.
Joining a church is a great way to meet new people, volunteer, and give you a purpose in life.
Living your life for God works does not get any better, make this a millennial goal for yourself.
25) Move out and live on your own
Let’s be honest if you’re still living at home when you turn thirty it’s a problem. Your 20s are a great time to venture out on your own.
After college moving back home with your parents might be a very savvy decision to get your finances in order.
Eventually, when you get your feet on the ground it’s time to move out and live on your own. It’s a wonderful transition with a lot of freedom!
Good stuff, thanks for sharing all of your goals! Once you reach thirties I’ll be curious your life goals then too 🙂
Thanks for your comments Mike. We will be sure to share our goals as they change. I think once we start a family they will drastically change.
I love these! Especially live within your means and read more. These are great goals and very attainable. Great list.
Thanks Nick!
As I approach my mid 30s I have to say this list is still a satisfying check-in tool. 1: We love YNAB. 2: Just our mortgage left. 3: Would be very interested to hear the suggestion for how to balance demolishing debt with travel-heavy 20s 4: So many people just operate with the expectation that 0% financing or a loan WILL be the plan when an expense comes up….we really really want to buy our next car in cash to kind of step out of the norm on this one 5: we made this an important hobby for us as a couple and had zero regrets 6: can always improve here but I do agree 7: A mechanic we trust will have to be close enough 8: I have a good credit score but we hope it will never be a relevant number in our life again and don’t give it much thought 9: check 10: check 11: we have money in sinking funds for big exciting goals that we hope we won’t have to touch, but if the tables took a turn we would raid that money as an emergency fund 12: I love side hustles. They are a thrilling hobby. 13: So freeing and important on the path to finding what makes YOU happy. 14: Yes, care less about what other people think and focus on your short time on earth and how YOU want to spend it. 15: an area I haven’t spent much time in 16: very true 17: my grandfather mentioned at my HS graduation party how few friends in life you would actually have and how easy it is to realize that in high school when you feel like you have a giant circle of friends. he was wise. 18: I didn’t get there in my 20s but I’m glad to be there now and will celebrate that. 19: Yes, and making mistakes is part of how you identify when you are truly happy I think as well 20: I have very few TV shows that interest me these days and really prefer to read about thrilling topics like personal finance and stories about how others reach their dreams 21: I’m not great at backing them up but I do really value my daily facebook glimpse and start each day looking back at this day in past years and NEVER REGRET those few moments. 22,23,24: these don’t call to me at all 25: I was so excited to prove I could be independent that I moved out right away once I graduated high school – it was the right choice for me but I realize it may not be for everyone