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AIBU?

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Original poster

To be saying I’m 40 already

37 replies

360whatdoyoumeab · 30/12/2025 00:15

my birthday is late July but I’ve been saying I’m 40 already as this is the year I will be turning it

OP posts:
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EnterFunnyNameHere · 30/12/2025 08:54

As an adult, in what circumstances are you telling people your age? Only, whilst I might ask a kid how old they are, I'd never ask an adult in general conversation - so I'm wondering why you even need to have this rule/approach in place?

CheeseWisely · 30/12/2025 08:53

HolidayPlanningAgain · 30/12/2025 00:52

I can never quite remember what my age is… I know within a year or so… i have to do a slight pause.. work out the year and the month to work it out! Beyond 30 who really keeps an accurate track?!

Same here. I’m fairly confident I’m 42 but if it was the last question to win a million I’d phone a friend.

Catza · 30/12/2025 08:50

I mean, I forget my age because I literally never have to mention it so I have to do a quick calculation subtracting my year of birth from the current year. Which means that for the entirety of the last year I was telling people I was 42 and onto realised I was lying all along when it got to my birthday.
Say whatever you want. Literally, nobody cares.

HouseWithASeaView · 30/12/2025 07:18

This is just peculiar if you are British and grew up in the UK where the age convention is that you turn your age marks the end of the year. In a few - South Korea I think - it is done differently and you are 1 the day you are born.
Your way of doing it doesn’t make sense. And it’s different to doing it from forgetfulness as you are intentionally doing it. Why are you? What are the benefits? Have you aged everyone else in your family in the same way?
I did used find it a bit weird when the DC were pre-schoolers as they approached each birthday as they change so much in a year. To describe both a 12mo and a 23.5mo as “1” seemed unhelpful they were so so different but they were both 1 and I could differentiate by saying “almost 2” or similar. I didn’t just round them up.

YankSplaining · 30/12/2025 02:55

I’m turning 40 in early June. I’m not 40 and you’re a few weeks younger than I am, so yes, YABU.

TurquoiseDress · 30/12/2025 01:53

Just be the age that you are currently!

My parents often do this and it is very annoying- they add a few years on for me.

For example I recall being 38 but my mother was complaining about something I’d done/hadn't done with my laundry when we found ourselves temporarily living with the parents in between a house move. She called me a lazy 40 year old, leaving my dirty knickers in the wrong place or something - I was like err I’m still 38!

More recently my dad referred to me as a 50 year old- I was 46 at the time 🤷🏻‍♀️

So no thanks, I’ll be the age that I currently am thank you!!

FarmGirl78 · 30/12/2025 01:44

Oh fuck no. This is what girls at Primary School did to convince boys at the local disco they were actually at high school. How the hell have you not grown out of it yet?

Topseyt123 · 30/12/2025 01:04

It's an odd thing to do. You are not 40 yet, you are 39. Why not just say that you'll be 40 next birthday?

2old4thispoo · 30/12/2025 01:03

But your 39...

RitaFromThePitCanteen · 30/12/2025 01:00

YABU, thats not how ages work. I just turned 42, but I'll be 43 in the coming year. Specifically, in late December 2026. I suppose, by your logic, I could start saying I'm 43 in January, but I'd be out by nearly 12 months.

Robinruby · 30/12/2025 00:57

I used to do this, no idea why. Now I’m heading towards 60 I’ve managed to stop .

Xmascraker · 30/12/2025 00:56

Don't you have anything better to think about? Your post is pretty pathetic/sad

XenoBitch · 30/12/2025 00:54

Nickyknackered · 30/12/2025 00:53

Did no one remember that she'd celebrated her 60th the year before?

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Not me, as I had not known her that long.
I think they all forgot too. She never made a big deal about birthdays anyway.

Nickyknackered · 30/12/2025 00:53

XenoBitch · 30/12/2025 00:25

I had a friend who was turning 60, so of course all the cards she had had 60 on. She later slunk back and admitted she got her age wrong, and she was actually 61 😄

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Did no one remember that she'd celebrated her 60th the year before?

IvyNeighbour · 30/12/2025 00:52

This is one of my pet peeves, you're not 40 you're 39. Even worse is I'll be ... this/next year, don't make me do maths just tell me how old you are (not that I ever ask but rounder uppers seem to mention their age a lot).

HolidayPlanningAgain · 30/12/2025 00:52

I can never quite remember what my age is… I know within a year or so… i have to do a slight pause.. work out the year and the month to work it out! Beyond 30 who really keeps an accurate track?!

FruitFlyPie · 30/12/2025 00:50

I'm opposite OP, I'm turning 40 next week and I still consider myself 39 if not 38.

latetothefisting · 30/12/2025 00:47

Weird.
How much more effort is it to add "nearly"?

Although tbh how many people regularly ask your age as an adult anyway? Can't remember the last time someone asked me!

ACynicalDad · 30/12/2025 00:37

Maybe say you’re in your fortieth year. You are not 40.

Safxxx · 30/12/2025 00:35

So you're mentally preparing yourself for turning 40 ...just enjoy being 39 for god's sake. My birthday is next week and I shall wait till then.

DappledThings · 30/12/2025 00:35

There was a thread here a few years ago from someone who did this with her DC. So if they were turning 12 and 9 in February and August 2026 she would start saying they were 12 and 9 from New Year's Day.

Utterly bizarre. For both her and OP.

therewasafishinthepercolator · 30/12/2025 00:34

Just say nearly 40.

I always seem to put myself a year ahead. I think what happens is I think - and tell people when asked - I'm nearly 47. I'm nearly 47.

So then I have 47 in my head and I start thinking and telling people I'm 47. When it gets near my birthday i think Aha! I'm turning 48. I'm never entirely sure.

DH and DC have to keep me right. 😳

To be clear, in my case, its confuddlement and stupidity, not intentional.

HeddaGarbled · 30/12/2025 00:33

Bonkers

Cara707 · 30/12/2025 00:33

I'm sure nobody will care BUT why not enjoy the last half year of your thirties?

shhblackbag · 30/12/2025 00:32

Weird. Why? You're not even that close yet.