I’m 30, But Going on 40 According to My “Real Age”

I’m not usually one to do a lot of online tests. Most of them are so short that it’s very unlikely that they can get a good idea for what they are testing for. I heard about RealAge.com and at first I dismissed it. How could a website figure out your habits and lifestyle and then determine your biological age? Then I heard a few more things. What the heck…I’ll give it a shot.

Going through the questionnaire, I was very surprised. It was very detailed and asked a bunch of questions. Some are obviously detrimental to your health, like whether you smoke (big strike against me) or whether you have high blood pressure (not me anymore, I lowered that one…yay!). What peaked my interest was the series of financial questions that they asked.

Here’s the ones that affected me:

I had serious financial problems
I thought I might lose my job
I felt overwhelmed by credit card debt
I was worried about healthcare coverage
I was worried about saving for retirement

For their explanation of the questions, they said that, “Chronic financial worry can significantly increase normal stress levels.”

I don’t doubt that for a second. I have stressed out far too many times about our finances and I know it hasn’t helped my health. I’ve been trying to keep the stress level down now that we are in debt reduction mode, but it’s very difficult. Until our debt is paid off, it will always be looming above our heads.

My final “real age” was determined to be 39.9 years old. As a 30 year old, that’s a bit to swallow that the test said that I’m pushing 40 biologically. I’m a skeptical person, and while I’m not so sure I’m really almost 40 biologically, I don’t doubt that there are changes that I can make to live a little longer. I think if anything, that is the biggest point of the site. After you finish your test and receive your results, you are able to read their recommendations on how you can lower your “real age.”

If you are interested in checking out your “real age”, visit RealAge.com. The test itself is free and all you will need to do is provide a valid email address and then answer some basic height/weight/health/lifestyle questions.

Posted by Tricia on September 19, 2007 at 10:07 PM in General Debt | 11 Comments »
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Mrs. Micah responded:
Posted: September 20th, 2007 at 7:15 am
Yeah, it gave me a way older age last time. Like 40+. I’m 22. Just because I’m in a lot of debt and worried about losing someone I love (my mom has terminal cancer) and such doesn’t mean I’m biologically older. It just means I have some heavy stuff to deal with.

I think _how_ you worry is much more important than that you worry of feel concerned. Do you worry in an ulcer-causing way? Or in a way that directs your mind to act on it?
Matt responded:
Posted: September 20th, 2007 at 7:33 am
I’m curious what I’d score on this test – lets see what my “real age” version of 30 is.
Tricia responded:
Posted: September 20th, 2007 at 7:38 am
Mrs. Micah – good point about *how* you worry. Me, I’m probably heading for an ulcer if I’m not careful. I’m better now than I used to be, but I still worry about things WAY too much.
What Can Debt Do To Your Body? » Blogging Away Debt responded:
Posted: September 20th, 2007 at 8:22 am
[...] Tricia: Mrs. Micah – good point about *how* you worry. Me, I’m probably… [...]
Dedicated responded:
Posted: September 20th, 2007 at 9:06 am
Hi Tricia, I posted about this on my new health blog – just tracking my personal self.

When I first took the real age test, I was given a Metabolic Age of 45. I’m of course, 38 = I felt the blow here.

Then, I bought a Tanita Scale. One with all the bells and whistles. It gives me, after putting in my personal info, weight, % of body fat, % of water, bone mass, daily caloric intake needed to maintain current weight and my metabolic age. I almost cried when it said I was 50.

I feel my scale is more accurate then the online test. I’m kind of having a love/hate relationship with my scale – much like an accident I can’t tear myself away.

Let me preach to you again – STOP SMOKING!

Okay, sorry – I had too.
Susan responded:
Posted: September 20th, 2007 at 9:29 am
Tricia: You’re way too young to be this obsessed with your debt. There is no job security in today’s world; so rule that one out. Your credit card debt is the amount of a economy car. Your mortgage is minimal, and for most people would equate to a down payment on a house. My suggestions? Stop smoking and smell the roses. If you’re really this concerned about money situate yourself in a larger city where both you and your husband can earn income and overtime. Your accounting skills are worth much more and your blogging business is innovative. With your skills and creativity you should be earning triple what your are now. Combine this with your frugality skills and money should be no problem.
MatureKid responded:
Posted: September 20th, 2007 at 10:12 am
Hi,

Like you, It took me awhile to take this test. Their ads are all over the internet. So there I took the test one day and I was shocked that my real age is 45. The result bothers me a lot- we had debts and we are working to pay it off. Debts can definitely affect our health. Thanks for sharing your test results. Have a nice day.

-MatureKid
Starving Artist responded:
Posted: September 20th, 2007 at 12:08 pm
Tricia! Stop smoking!

There’s a million aids to help you. Keep trying until it sticks.
Joy Smith responded:
Posted: September 20th, 2007 at 2:55 pm
I think I just might take this test. Hopefully your stress level lowers soon! I’ve been told that too much stress can kill you.
DC Smith responded:
Posted: September 20th, 2007 at 3:01 pm
Hmm. It said I was four years younger than I am (which is 36). I wonder what I would get if I exercised? 25? My twenties were not fun and I have no desire to go back, but I see little danger of me hopping a treadmill so I’m probably ok.

Maybe this is why all those annoying punks at work keep hanging around me. They think I’m at the high end of the cool big brother cohort instead of the low end of of the “old enough to be your father” demographic. I don’t know how to fix it though. If I get any more curmudgeonly I’ll get fired!

Why do I get the feeling I just provided a wealth of valuable demographic info to some data mining company for free?

We old folks can be very suspicious.
Tricia responded:
Posted: September 23rd, 2007 at 9:13 am
Susan – I worry about finances too much, but I also worry about other things not financial related. We have been discussing moving, actually. But it’s a difficult thing to do and will cost money for a move. Thank you for the encouraging words…I needed them.