7 Smart Ways to Build Wealth and Make Money in Your 30s

By the time you are 30, its easy to feel like life is rushing you to take a hold of your finances. Whether that means investing your money for retirement, or making extra money on the side. 

I have lived as a nomad in Europe as a North American for 3 years, lived off of minimum wage while upskilling my portfolio. This being said, I have learned a thing or two about how to keep saving money while in your 30s, even when you dont have much to begin with. 

Optimize your Financial Foundation

Once you hit your 30s, its super easy to still have no control over your finances. This becomes overwhelming once you spend 5 bucks here and 10 bucks there. Eventually, you find that $100 you were trying to save completely gone. 

Here are some ways I have been able to save, even when I was making low income salary. These methods helped me optimize my financial foundation, to better get a grip of my money while in my 30s:

Alot of these tips can also bleed over into how you can make money in your 20's, however not everyone has it all together by their 30s, and thats okay. Hopefully organizing a solid financial foundation early on can help you have a wealthier future. 

Take on Side Hustles

Side hustles, especially if you find the right kind, are great for earning some extra cash. Whether you want to find some good non-skilled side hustles like pet-sitting or Freecash, or maybe you want to get into something long-term like Graphic Design or Freelance Writing.

Side hustles have been one of the main way many individuals can save money while travelling, or even pay off their groceries. 

Here are a few side hustles that I have tried out, and have easily paid me from $5 to $25 an hour:

These side hustles are also great for introverts, or if you are limited on tech and you just want an easy way to make money with no money invested. 

Invest in Stocks (the Smart Way)

Everyone says to invest in stocks, but they always mention extremely annoying ways to do it. Then they throw in IRAs, 401ks, etc. As someone in your 30s, you probably either already have one of these, or you have no access to one due to location or just financial reasons. 

As someone who is always on the move and needs to find ways to make money constantly, I found a few great apps and methods that have helped me with investing in stocks, avoiding anything super overcomplicated. 

You shouldn't feel like investing is a chore every month, otherwise you wont do it. Even if its just $50, or $20, start trying to put away what feels okay to set aside.

You can alternatively play on Freecash and directly cashout your earnings into your Paypal or crypto account. This way you dont need to use any monthly income. Just earn, and save up. 

Learn a New Skill

Being 30 doesn't mean you should stop learning. In fact, your 30s are a prime time for you to get started in something new. There are many different avenues you could go down like art, tech, business, etc. You can also find free courses in platforms or from your favorite Youtubers. 

Here are a few platforms that are free where you can learn new skills:

From here, you can easily find quality courses that can quickly boost your portfolio and personal skills. I would recommend using freelance platforms to help you figure out how projects would work if you started using those skills to earn money in the future. 

Turn Your Skills into a Business

A majority of individuals nowadays are creating their own businesses while working a 9-5. While similar to a side hustle, having your own business is a way to grow your own personal brand and have more than one income stream that has infinite possibilities. 

Here are some ways you can utilize your skills to turn into a business:

All of these could take time and a few hours a day to get right. However the end reward is high, and you can easily earn from $200-$1k+ a month once you get the ball rolling. 

Spend Less Than You Make

We have all fallen guilty for spending more than you make. Or atleast, close. In your 30s you are typically making more than you did in your 20s or as a teen earning online income. 

Spending less than you make, or "living below your means" is a popular way many adults have earned a proper savings. 

Here is how you can avoid lifestyle creep, and still save more than you spend:

Instead of spending more every time you get a raise, live life how you have before. There is nothing to prove to anyone, especially when you are comfortable.

The most freeing feeling is not having to pay more than you need to for rent, and using that extra money to pay for something fun like travelling, or maybe new specs for your PC, or a new car. 

Try to avoid spending more, even if the money is available. This allows you to have some wiggle room for other activities, and to help you save up for a better future you. 

Pay Yourself First

Making sure you are paying yourself by adding money into your savings is extremely important. Adding this money directly to your savings right after you get paid is the best way to keep up with your savings goals.

You can set up an automatic savings account transfer every time you get paid. Then get paid every month without the need to manually move your money. This saves you time and honestly, you wont even notice the money was moved.