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Is it normal to still no little about finances at 30+ ?

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chris1989
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19 Oct 2025, 8:24 am

I don't know why but I seem to feel as though other people even perhaps younger than me know a lot about finances and business dealing and so on. I remember doing business studies at sixth form but at 18 or 19 at the time, I found it boring. I didn't know how to use money properly until I was about 20 or 21. I remember being shown how to use money for the first time by my mum when I got on a bus.

I know how to save money but I seem to think there are other aspects I know little about and think everyone else does. I remember the other weekend around my Nan's, my uncle was discussing with his daughter and her partner about the finances and stuff around a new house they wanted to move to and selling off their old home and there I was overhearing it thinking why don't I know all about this stuff?



Texasmoneyman300
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19 Oct 2025, 2:43 pm

chris1989 wrote:
I don't know why but I seem to feel as though other people even perhaps younger than me know a lot about finances and business dealing and so on. I remember doing business studies at sixth form but at 18 or 19 at the time, I found it boring. I didn't know how to use money properly until I was about 20 or 21. I remember being shown how to use money for the first time by my mum when I got on a bus.

I know how to save money but I seem to think there are other aspects I know little about and think everyone else does. I remember the other weekend around my Nan's, my uncle was discussing with his daughter and her partner about the finances and stuff around a new house they wanted to move to and selling off their old home and there I was overhearing it thinking why don't I know all about this stuff?

The info about finances is all over the Internet and YouTube these days. However you have to know whether or not the sources are trustworthy or not. What do you want to know about finances? Maybe I can help with that. Saving money is not a good long-term strategy for your retirement savings because of inflation. You generally have to invest it somehow like in the stock market or real estate. You have missed the best decade of your adult life to invest in the stock market which was your 20's. But the second best time is now. You can have at least 1 Million if you invest 100 to 200 dollars or pounds from 18 to 70 or 80. I would google index funds. More people these days are financial literate it seems but most people are generally bad with money.



y-pod
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03 Nov 2025, 5:31 am

Sure. It's normal to know nothing about finance if you've always been taken care of, or have never needed to make a lot of monetary decisions. I know quite a few people who don't know how to manage money or investing. Now if you want to learn about these things I suggest taking a personal finance class. Something that starts from the beginning and and would give you enough pressure to learn and practice. You would need some high school level math as foundation. It would give you understanding and confidence regarding money issues. Your local public schools or community college should offer them.

I know there are lots of "free" classes provided by banks and investment advisors. I don't recommend those for beginners. You might not understand what they are talking about and give up too quickly, and hand over your money for them to manage. :?


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BTDT
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03 Nov 2025, 7:24 am

I learned a little bit at a time. I started with an IRA bank CD! That money eventually got rolled over into a mutual fund and is worth a lot more today. But the important thing is that I got started when I was in my 20s.

It certainly isn't too late in your 30s. Much better than if you waited until your 50s or 60s!
In the USA we have a catch up age. You can contribute more if you are in your 50s!



Canadian Freedom Lover
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11 Nov 2025, 8:05 pm

chris1989 wrote:
I don't know why but I seem to feel as though other people even perhaps younger than me know a lot about finances and business dealing and so on. I remember doing business studies at sixth form but at 18 or 19 at the time, I found it boring. I didn't know how to use money properly until I was about 20 or 21. I remember being shown how to use money for the first time by my mum when I got on a bus.

I know how to save money but I seem to think there are other aspects I know little about and think everyone else does. I remember the other weekend around my Nan's, my uncle was discussing with his daughter and her partner about the finances and stuff around a new house they wanted to move to and selling off their old home and there I was overhearing it thinking why don't I know all about this stuff?

If you know how to save money and have the ability to put that knowledge into action, then you are better off than most adults in the western world. So, don't be too hard on yourself.