'The one thing I want every woman turning 30 to hear.'

Thanks to our brand partner, Australian Unity

I'm going to come right out and admit it: turning 30 was a real process for me. 

If I had to psychoanalyse myself, I'd say it all began when I first watched Suddenly 30 as a tween.

Despite it being beloved by all my peers, I simply couldn't get behind the premise of the movie. 30, flirty and thriving? I'll believe it when I see it. 

I was carrying a lot of (stupid, ageist) baggage with me when I hit the big 3-0, so to actually arrive at the age that I'd long ago deemed waaaay over the hill came as a shock. 

But life is a series of lessons, and I've learnt some pretty great ones since entering my fourth decade.

For one, I now understand that you should never ask a tween girl's opinion on anything. And as for the rest? Well, if you'll indulge a wise-old woman (31), I'd love to share with you the things I believe are worth investing in before you turn 30. 

Health insurance. 

Despite what I might have believed when I was in uni, health insurance is not just for people who are imminently anticipating a hospital stay. On the contrary — utilising your health insurance is as much about staying in good health as it is about helping you when you're unwell. 

Don't believe me? Check out Australian Unity, a health fund which offers health insurance with cover benefits ranging from teeth whitening, health coaching, remedial massage and travel vaccines to mental health coaching, quit-smoking programs and up to 100 per cent coverage for dental check-ups — something I can definitely get on board with. 

And, of course, they also offer coverage for things like hospital, optical, chiro, physio and more.

I know us elder millennials are all terrified of life admin (not to mention the horror of having to carry a wallet), but managing your health insurance is probably easier than you think.

Australian Unity's digital-first approach means you can make instant claims using a digital card, and you can get details of your cover via their app whenever you need. 

And look, if you need a little treat to persuade you to take the plunge, Australian Unity have you covered.

Their Wellplan Rewards program means members save money on everyday spending, entertainment, dining, retail and wellness, with discounts from over 100 brands, including rebel, Amazon, JB Hi-Fi, Freedom, Woolworths and Village Cinemas that you don't have to accumulate points to access (like traditional programs). 

Solid money management. 

In my 20s, I practised the ostrich approach to financing, namely: sticking my head (and also my whole body) in the sand.

The thought of even checking my bank balance sent chills down my spine. What would I find there? It was best, I decided, to simply not know. 

Well, wouldn't you know it! With the benefit of hindsight, I am astonished to learn that taking a "none of my business" approach to my own finances did not set me up for a lifetime of wealth. 

After taking a long, hard look at myself, I invested in some literature. Yep, I bought books about saving — Victoria Devine's She's On The Money and Scott Pape's The Barefoot Investor, to be precise.

22-year-old Zoe would be rolling her eyes so hard right now. But guess what, 22-year-old Zoe? I've got way more money than you, and I'm not even afraid to open up my banking app and look at it. 

A wardrobe you actually love. 

I spent my twenties purchasing a range of garments that were, variously: too small, too big, too short, too long, weird-fitting, strange-shaped, damaged or otherwise had nothing to do with any other item in my existing wardrobe.

I ended up with a wardrobe of things I didn't want, much less money than I started with and still nothing to wear. 

When I turned 30, I committed to buying timeless clothes that had more longevity. It's not just better for the environment, but it's actually easier to manage less choices in the morning.

Buying higher-quality lasting pieces generally does cost more, but if we do some "girl math" and figure out the cost per wear, I'm definitely saving money in the long run. 

Your wellbeing. 

An older relative once told me the most important thing I had was my health, and I actually laughed in their face.

As a young person, the concept of health didn't factor into my thinking at all. I'd been lucky enough to never experience any health turns, so I just assumed it would always be that way.

But there's a turning point — probably around the time you can casually refer to your "bad knee" without a second thought — when looking after your body becomes about more than just appearance.

That moment hit me when I turned 30. For me, it meant lifting more weights, eating more veggies and drinking more water.

As I'm constantly reminded myself, health and wellbeing doesn't stop with my physical body — taking care of my mental health has also never been so critical. Where I would once lie awake at night with my mind spinning, I now swear by my nightly wind-down yoga.

The bottom line? This is the body and brain that you'll be carrying for the rest of your life, so you should probably — you know — look after them. 

Visit Australian Unity to learn more about their health insurance.

Feature Image: Supplied.

Looking for health insurance you'll actually use? Australian Unity has designed their cover to be super useful for your everyday life. Think things like dental check-ups, optical, physio, chiro, remedial massage, travel vaccines and so much more. Whether it's keeping you in shape for the things you love or for that unexpected accident or illness Australian Unity has cover to suit your lifestyle, budget and needs. Totally worth it!