Late to the thread... happy belated birthday, OP. A few thoughts...

Like everyone said, be sure you are investing in your retirement. Try to cultivate an interest in investing as a hobby. I am around 50 and my friends who had investing as a hobby 20 years ago are basically able to retire any time they want. 20 years ago I spent money on pinball machines instead of investing... Guess who isn't able to retire yet. But if you can't find the interest to make it a serious hobby, *at least* do autopilot retirement investing. Max out that 401k and dump money into index funds too... whatever you do, make a plan and stick to it.

Something I recently discovered that I really, really wish I had been doing... writing journals. My memory for stuff that I have experienced is not very good. I can't remember jack about vacations I have been on, pinball repairs I have done, people I have known, people I have married even, LOL. I really wish I had written it down as it happened.

You didn't forget about that $500.00 that you were sending me did you?

A pinball forum is a terrible place to ask for advice on life. That's worth knowing and extrapolating.

Yeah, but how often can you use extrapolating, otherwise.

Forums are the haven of big words.

LTG : )

Extrapolate- was that Bally or Chicago Coins?

Geeze. It was Genco.

LTG : )

one important lesson: never stay with a woman who doesn't appreciate you or what you offer. accept the truth, and split up. I learned the hard way

I don't know, a lot of successful people 1/2 ass retired and with enough money to buy lots and lots of expensive toys. They can't be doing it all wrong.

unless they're assholes, i don't care how well you're doing, if your just an asshole, then......you know, just go away

Sometimes it is just a fuse.

Better to die with extra savings then spend the last few years with not enough....

and I forgot to post 10 months ago .... cash out of stocks until 2023 .. sorry I left that out.

Hell, you're not half as old as me, and I still don't know what I'm doing. Enjoy life, save a bit, spend a bit, pick your poisons wisely, and always have at least 1 pin

OP needs a whole new set of advice for when turning 31. Let's get on it!

Always try to take the high road.

Learn to have complete control of your emotions.

Yes this is very very true leave when u can before it's too late

Simple advice : Get high, get drunk, get laid .

And try to stay relatively healthy within those contexts...

after work lol

IT IS NEVER TOO LATE, amigo. never too late to take control of your own future. A man can make the hard choice and take the more difficult path, or stay on the easy trail and remain in stasis and fear. Or he can take control and reap the benefits

Give way more than you get. Others first, you last.
Do good.

This is solid advice! Seriously!

Happy Birthday!

You are near your peak earning potential, make the best of that and if you
haven't already, start saving for the future. Invest every penny you can.

Enjoy everything life has to offer. Don't let others tell you what to do, make
your own decisions. Especially with things that bring you joy like pinball.

Don't let good opportunities pass you by, you WILL regret it for years to come.

68 is right around the corner and I know so much now I wish I did at 30!
Steve

agree .... youth is wasted on the young

Coming up to the big 31... it's all downhill from here.

My advice for this year is to drink way more water than you think you actually need. I honestly believe it's a big part of the reason I felt like shit every day for the last 15 years.

Blood drawers have always had trouble finding my veins, and they always say the same thing. "You need to drink more water". Not sure what the connection is, but I have been trying to drink more water instead of coffee and diet soda.

Be mindful of your diet, exercise and lifestyle in the 30s. Every following decade of your life will thank you. I was able to skate through my 30s after a lively 20s of excess, but the bill comes due in your 40s.

"The only thing an old man can tell a young man is that it goes fast, real fast, and if you’re not careful it's too late. Of course, the young man will never understand this truth." - Norm MacDonald

If you haven't figured most of it out by 30 I don't know what to tell ya.

I mean all "you need to know" at this point is pretty depressing. get ready for hair to either fall out or sprout in unwelcome places. Your eyesight will soon get worse. Soon, things will just start hurting for no particular reason. Start getting your blood sugar checked.

Also you'll soon hate anybody under the age of 30 even if you don't really understand why.

Hey, you asked. Good luck buddy!

you must be fun @ parties

Do what makes you happy and gives you drive and don’t settle for anything less.

He asked!

If I was dumb enough to post "I am about to turn 48, what do I need to know about life?" I'd expect similarly bad news!

Sorry your life is miserable ...
I am in my 50's and I am enjoying this decade the most

Sorry your 20s, 30s, and 40s were so miserable!

But nothing wrong with making up for lost time!

In a Forrest Gump voice;
Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer you get to the end the
faster it goes.

Touché
It's possible they were, but didn't feel like that to me ... It's just each decade I reach new milestones and it seems to keep getting better with age

I didn't intend to get into a spitting match with you, just that your comments present such a depressing outlook on aging and I have not experienced that at all.

None of us truly have the "ANSWER" listen to your gut; never listen to others...follow your dreams!!

In your 30s you start to find yourself getting a little more mature but you still have that wild side in you. You start thinking more to the future with a house and more reliable car. If you don't have much of a savings you should at least being doing 401k with your work for some kind of retirement no matter what the market is. Albert Einstein "may" have described compound interest as the “eighth wonder of the world,” saying, “he who understands it, earns it; he who doesn’t, pays for it. Benjamin Franklin, described it: "Money makes money. And the money that money makes, makes money." That is probably the simplest explanation of compound interest you'll ever hear. Just know that its good. Try not to have more that $5K in credit card debt. Pay that crap off. The biggest secret to life is having a small nut to pay.

30s/40s
You're still considered sort of young. These will probably be your last couple decades before starting to feel those mystery pains. You know, the aches and pains from previous dent and scratch injuries from your youth. Some decent foundation laying habits to do immediately... The second biggest secret is if you haven't been, start taking care of yourself NOW. Stop smoking if you do smoke. Hit the gym 2-3 times a week. Get your heart going with a little cardio. You don't have to go nuts or anything. Your metabolism starts to change so you have to work a little more to burn some of the flub. Learn to cook for yourself and others. It takes nothing to throw some chicken or salmon in the oven for 20 min while you make rice and a vegetable. Its also cheaper and 10 fold better for you than ordering something out all the time.

Miscellaneous tips...
You may find someone to get married to. If not, don't sweat it but keep trying. Kids are cool but if you don't have any its also not a biggy. Online dating apps are ok but op to meet people doing things you like doing ie gym or whatever. Online social media apps and being on your phone all the time stunts your interpersonal skills though. If your online more than in person your doing it wrong. Start reading a book once and awhile no matter what the subject is. Travel somewhere outside of the country to see places and how others live. It "Broadens your Horizons" and will definitely help you appreciate things more - especially where you live. Don't do anything half ass. Do it right the first time. Always show up 10-15 minutes early. Just know that most people are in the same boat. Most don't know anything more than the other. Vote, wear sunscreen, and ALWAYS be humble because there's always someone having a tougher go at it than you.

Mid to late 40's
You're considered and "old guy" by anyone under 30. It’s laughable but that's the way it is although you'll be at the top of your game. 50's may start to suck with seeing parents and other family getting older, sick and/or dying. Your parents dying will be one of the major events of your life and will be tough. Like most things time heals. Make a will and have things in place. All that health stuff I mentioned above starts to rear its head. You'll start getting educated quickly by your doctor about Blood pressure, cholesterol, colonoscopy and other stuff. Lastly, it alright to only have a handful of good ride or die fiends. There’s a ton of reasons why people come and go in life and sometimes it has nothing to do with you.

That's all I got for being 52. Older friends have told me 60's are more of the same and 70's is where the fun really starts with health related stuff.

Don't come to Pinside for life advice. Most succinct answer I have to offer.

I don't know. We have a really good cross section of people here. Many have excellent advice, and others; well not so good.

agree

“Youth is wasted on the young”

The older you get, the more this phrase rings true.

By 29, I had been married for 9 years, and my own business had grown enough where I quit the grind of getting up and driving to work for someone else. My wife was 28 and she did the same. We both actually quit the same day. Just as the recession of 2008 was kicking off. Wonderful and scary all at once. Mostly wonderful.

Almost 15 years later, we have an amazing home and my business was thriving enough for her to be able to retire hers 6 years ago and help me out and look after our home.

My ass don’t work as good as it used to, lost a bit of hair, but Im thankful I still have most of it. Otherwise, I feel pretty damn good for 42.

People always say “time flies when you get older!” I don’t find that’s the case at all. I think it comes from most people settling into routines, and your brain discarding redundant information. You want to live a full life? Always be learning and never sink too much into a routine. For example, we both got into pinball only 2 years ago.

I have several ideas for apps that could bank me millions and maybe even billions, but I’m at a point in my life where I’m not interested in risking everything I have again, causing a huge disruption upending our lives, starting a new business, managing massive software teams, etc. simply for more money. I make enough to live comfortably. That’s all I need.

No kids, no pets, very few close friends. For some, that’s a lonely existence. For us, it’s absolute paradise. So much time is wasted by most people confirming to unquestioned expectations.

The Queen’s passing recently, with all of the silly pomp and circumstance surrounding it, illustrates exactly this point. Both of us were curious about the ridiculous spectacle, so we tuned in, and what one of the commentary people said will stick with me for the rest of my life.

“In death, we are all equal”

No. Most importantly, we are all equal in life. It’s a shame most don’t realize it until death. Lining up for miles and days to walk by a dead body in a box is some of the realest dystopian shit I’ve seen in my 42 years, but I know I’m the asshole for saying it.

Don’t do that. Don’t do shit remotely like that. Anyone who does that isn’t living for themselves, but adhering to nonsensical societal expectations that objectively make your life worse. It’s all symbolic, but live life for yourself and the ones closest to you, not dead bodies in boxes who were born into crowns.

Welcome to your 30s

Some great advice here!

…Oh and “god save the king”

Soft drinks and coffee don't hydrate you as well as water. Dehydration causes your blood volume in your body to decrease, and your veins shrink due to the decreased volume of fluids in your body. That's why it's easier to find a vein when you're well hydrated.

Make stretching everyday a habit. It may sound small but your body will thank you later.

The best life advice I've ever heard came from Michael Vick's financial advisor.

With a Bill Burr voiceover.

Live every day as if it might be your last, because it can be over before you expect it. If you know you should do something, do it instead of putting it off over and over. If you know you shouldn’t do/say something, don’t. I turned 60 in April and had a quite unexpected heart attack in August. Thankfully, I’m doing well, but it makes you think about perspective.

One thing I’ll say is as I get older it seems like it gets harder to stay connected with people. I don’t mean connected like knowing what they post on Facebook or instagram, but actually hanging out with them and knowing what’s up with their life. You might find that some friends or even some family kind of fade away. Numbers dwindle. You might even come to realize that some of those friends and even some of the family actually kind of suck and you’re better off without them.

My cheap advice is recognize the truly special relationships and fight to keep them. Might be harder to find time as other priorities build up, but don’t lose the people that really matter. I mean that not just for wife/girlfriend, but also parents, best buddies, siblings etc. Maintaining those relationships won’t come as easily as you get older. Give them some focus.

To the OP. What's the most important thing you've learned in the last year? Maybe something you thought you had right and decided you didn't, or maybe something new.