Does it seem like everyone wants a piece of your paycheque these days? The costs of setting up house, wrapping up studies, starting a family or paying your career dues can pile up by the time your 30s roll around.

Fortunately, crossing that big Three-O threshold hasn’t dampened your outlook on life and what you expect out of it.  You’ve learned, by now, that sometimes it’s better to grab the wheel and at least move steadily in one direction than to spin in circles of indecision.

The momentum you’ve picked up in every part of your life – job, relationships, community, creativity – can also help set a path towards good financial health.

Even if you do feel financially strapped, there are some relatively pain-free ways to save and invest toward the things you want to do. This publication offers a few practical ideas to help train your monetary muscles. It’s mostly about spending habits, attitude and making your savings as automatic as possible.

So set aside those get-rich-quick fantasies and prepare to get real with your money. You don’t have to win the lottery, marry a Rockefeller or find buried treasure to create solid financial footing for the future.