Adjusting My Financial Strategy in my 30s

3 changes I am making to my money as a now-30 year old!!

Author

Michela Allocca
July 22, 2025

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What to expect in today’s newsletter (5 min read)

  • Bank account changes

  • Updates to my CC wallet

  • Preparing for real estate

MONEY
3 Financial Changes I’m Making in my 30s

It’s been about 2 weeks since I turned 30 and I have been taking some time to refine my financial strategy as I enter this new decade!

My 20s were ripe with opportunity and growth, so in my 30s I really want to optimize, refine, and consolidate as I continue to grow my wealth.

These changes aren’t majorly drastic, but they will make a difference not only in my financial organization but also ensure that my money is getting stretched as far as it can possibly go.

Hopefully, they inspire you to make any necessary changes or adjustments to your finances, too!

You can learn more about these changes on this week’s youtube video linked here!

Change #1: Consolidating my Bank Accounts

My bank accounts are everywhere and it’s been driving me insane because all I want in life is for everything (physically and digitally) to be neat and clean and organized.

So I FINALLYYY took the time to sit down and start consolidating all of my cash accounts to be within one bank.

Previously, my checking account was with BofA and my HYSA/CD was with Ally. Now, I am moving everything over to SoFi and will be using that as my main bank going forward.

The process has taken a little while so if you are also looking to consolidate accounts I’d give yourself like a month to get it all done.

(And because I know someone will ask - there was NOTHING WRONG with either of the previous banks or my accounts before. I just want everything together in one place!)

Change #2: Adjustments to my CC Wallet

The next area of business has been to take a closer look at my credit card wallet. I really want to ensure that the cards I use (and pay for) make sense based on my spending patterns.

I made a few adjustments over the last few weeks:

  • I closed my Chase Sapphire Preferred card because the purchase to points ratio isn’t high enough compared to my other cards, and it doesn’t make sense for me to pay for it if I’m not using it!

  • I opened a Bilt card, specifically to pay rent but also to serve as a replacement for my Chase card

  • I opened an AmEx Everyday cash back card which I will be using to earn cash back on my groceries

  • I am keeping my AmEx Platinum card

With these changes, the cards I have cover the transfer partners that make the most sense for me, and I am able to earn the most points possible based on my spending patterns!

IT IS SO IMPORTANT to make sure the cards you use make sense for your lifestyle. Be sure to audit them annually and make changes as needed!

Change #3: Prepping for Real Estate

I am not currently planning to purchase real estate (honestly I am enjoying my financial freedom a LOT lately) but I do know that the likelihood I choose to purchase will come up before I turn 35.

With that in mind, I want to make sure alllll my ducks are in a row so that when I am ready, I can jump on the opportunity.

Here’s what I am doing:

  • Running the numbers on what I can reasonably afford in the current market and if interest rates were to change

  • Ensuring money I would use for a down-payment is set aside in a HYSA

  • Scenario-planning the impact real estate could have on my FI/RE plans

Buying property is a HUGE decision, and while I very much so look forward to having a home, I am not rushing the process!!

You can learn more about the changes I am making and my thought process behind them in this weeks youtube video!

WEEKLY RECOMMENDATION

A few weeks ago, Hannah Horvath came up on my FYP and I am OBSESSEDDDD with her videos and Substack! She shares weekly newsletters via her Substack called Your Brain on Money and her perspectives are so thoughtful and interesting I can’t get enough. You can read some of her recent articles here! I literally look forward to reading these weekly I am obsessed.

RESOURCES
What’s Happening This Week at Break Your Budget

  • This week on Don’t Depend on Daddy: I am sharing how I am resetting and changing my life over the next 6 months!! We love a mid-year money reset, but there are so many other aspects of life to take a look at, too. Specifically, I share some health and fitness goals, routine goals, and more!

  • Changes I am Making in my 30s: If you enjoyed this newsletter and want more details around the changes I am making to my finances, you’ll love this video! I go deeper on my account consolidation, credit cards, and real estate plans!

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xoxo,

Michela