Different decades bring different money decisions—but the best move is rarely copying someone else’s timeline.
In this episode of the Australian Finance Podcast, Owen Rask and Gemma Mitchell go decade by decade from your 20s to your 70s, sharing what to focus on and the common mistake to avoid at every stage.
In your 20s, they cover good money habits, the First Home Super Saver Scheme and resisting lifestyle creep. Your 30s are about working as a team, using insurance and debt deliberately, and borrowing for the life you expect—not only the one you have today.
For your 40s, the conversation turns to building a real financial plan, debt recycling, upgrading the family home and avoiding unsuitable SMSFs or cheap investment properties. In your 50s, the focus shifts to maximising super while still creating wealth outside it, protecting flexibility and refusing to panic as retirement gets closer.
Owen and Gemma then unpack pension phase, turning assets into retirement income and “trying before you buy” major lifestyle changes in your 60s. By your 70s, priorities may move towards simplifying structures, rebalancing wealth, paying for support and discussing legacy with family.
This is not a rigid checklist tied to birthdays. It is a practical framework for matching your money to the life you want—whether you are ahead, behind or on a completely different path.
