Once you turn 30, you'll realize that money can buy happiness.

VHO - Compared to myself 10 years ago, I find this 30-year-old version much better.

At 22, I once stood in front of the fruit aisle in the supermarket for almost ten minutes, just debating whether or not to buy a box of strawberries costing 189,000 VND. It wasn't because I hated strawberries; it's just that at the time, 189,000 VND was enough for three days' worth of food. Even though I really craved a box of strawberries, I had to tell myself, "I'll eat them later."

That year, I had just started working. With a net salary of 6.5 million VND, my life revolved around four words: managing finances.

Calculate whether ordering bubble tea today will exceed your food budget this week. Calculate whether buying a pair of shoes now will leave you with enough money for instant noodles at the end of the month,...

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Back then, the concept of eating whatever I wanted or shopping to my heart's content was a luxury for me, let alone more expensive things like traveling . A train trip could require months of planning in advance. And air travel was out of the question; the airfare alone could cost as much as a month and a half's rent, and that was even with shared accommodation.

There was a time when I thought I was young and that was great. But that was only when I was a student, still having the "privilege" of freely receiving money from my parents. Once I started working and had to fend for myself, I realized that not everyone can enjoy their youth when they're always in a state of "almost running out of money."

So now that my job is more stable and my income is better, I understand what "freedom" truly means. It's not about abstract or difficult-to-understand points; sometimes it's simply being able to freely buy the food I crave, or freely book flights and hotel rooms wherever I like – even if it's just for domestic travel.

Money may not buy happiness, but it can buy many things that help you live a better life!

That's what I've realized. The feeling of "living life on your own terms" is largely related to money. Not the kind of extravagant wealth, but simply not having to overthink your very ordinary needs anymore.

In the past, even taking a break felt stressful. Taking a few days off meant worrying about losing income and running out of money for rent at the end of the month. But now, I can reward myself with a short trip after a long period of overwork without having to calculate whether I'll have to eat instant noodles next month to make up for it.

In the past, renting my own place was a distant dream. Back then, living alone meant rent was half my salary, and I didn't want to put myself in such a difficult situation. But by the age of 30, I could rent a house I liked and buy the furniture for my living space without much hesitation.

It was a clothes dryer because I hated the idea of ​​clothes taking forever to dry in the humid season, an ergonomic chair to make working easier on weekends and watching movies at night to avoid back pain... All of these things sound ordinary, but 10 years ago, they were things I couldn't afford.

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At 20, I had time, health, and carefree spirit, but no money. Therefore, many things called "youthful freedom"—to me, they only existed on social media. In reality, it was still about working, carefully budgeting, and then "waiting until the end of the month" for payday to figure things out.

That box of strawberries cost 189,000 VND at the supermarket back then. I don't remember how many times I had to think, "I'll do it next month," before I dared put it in my shopping cart and take it to the checkout. I only know that now, whether it's a box of strawberries costing 1 million VND or a 40 million VND trip for myself and my parents, I can afford it. This state of mind, if you call it confidence, would be more accurate than freedom.

Confidence allows you to live a comfortable life. Confidence in being able to provide for your parents – not only basic needs like monthly utility bills and food expenses, but also annual vacations. Confidence in being able to handle family matters if necessary.

In my twenties, I used to think that youth should be vibrant, that I should travel a lot, experience many things, and truly enjoy freedom. But reality was far different. My youth was simply a time spent worrying about earning money, managing my expenses so I wouldn't have to ask my mother for money, and fearing, "What if I remain this poor forever?"

Looking back now, I no longer see 30 as something to worry about or be afraid of. At least, this is the stage where I'm able to live comfortably, not only for myself but also for my parents. That's enough to dispel any worries about age.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/doi-song/cu-30-tuoi-di-roi-thay-tien-mua-duoc-hanh-phuc-230234.html