-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 QeifEJA4x4BaCD3K94JL/J25eyP7pnuviD+iPmIPf/2/PbSZQqpvvd+mHZ4zekcY
 t4K4y+ztWWupSL7sz1Q4mA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001185532-04-000001.txt : 20041208
<SEC-HEADER>0001185532-04-000001.hdr.sgml : 20041208
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041208124719
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001185532-04-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041208
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041208
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041208

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FIRSTFED FINANCIAL CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000810536
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SAVINGS INSTITUTION, FEDERALLY CHARTERED [6035]
		IRS NUMBER:				954087449
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		401 WILSHIRE BOULEVARD
		CITY:			SANTA MONICA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90401-1490
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3103196000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		401 WILSHIRE BOULEVARD
		CITY:			SANTA MONICA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90401

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HEIMBUCH BABETTE E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001185532

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09566
		FILM NUMBER:		041190266

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		310 319 6000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		401 WILSHIRE BLVD
		STREET 2:		4TH FL
		CITY:			SANTA MONICA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90401
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-12-08</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000810536</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FIRSTFED FINANCIAL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FED</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001185532</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HEIMBUCH BABETTE E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>401 WILSHIRE BLVD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>4TH FL</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SANTA MONICA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90401</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Executive Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>10.875</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-12-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>10.875</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1999-01-30</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2007-01-30</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>23640</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The options vest in 20%, 40%, 40% installments beginning January 30, 1999.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/S/ Babette E. Heimbuch</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-12-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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