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Original poster

What was your life like when you were 24?

257 replies

OkSoqhateo · 28/12/2024 13:26

The title says it all. Were you living with your parents still? What was your job like? What did your social life consist of?

OP posts:
ByHeartyCyanMentor · 28/12/2024 14:26

I was married, with mortgage and a year into being a SAHM after doing 2 years as a teacher.

barbarahunter · 28/12/2024 14:27

Santaisinbedalready · 28/12/2024 13:37

I had 3 dc and pregnant with dc4... ..living with an utter cunt. Managed to leave in time.

Me too. Glad you managed to leave, as did I eventually.

Purgepossessions2025 · 28/12/2024 14:27

Been living in London for two years. Just bought a 2 bed house with a friend after a break up. Working in the NHS. Had a whirlwind monogamous relationship with a decent man who was from a different culture but because we both knew we were never going to be getting married it was like we could truly be free and explore each other with no expectations. Lasted 18 months then it was time to move on and rejoin the real world. All very amicable. Fond memories. No regrets.

LittleMachine · 28/12/2024 14:28

On my 24th birthday I'd been teaching for 3 years, I was living at home and had been engaged to a violent abuser for several years.
By the time I was about to turn 25, I had my own flat and was on SLT in the school I worked in. I'd binned off the violent fiance and was unexpectedly having a baby with my new boyfriend (now DH). It couldn't have been a more transitional year for me.

Movinghouseatlast · 28/12/2024 14:28

I was single, living in a shared flat with one other person. I was at college doing a post grad but I didn't have a grant ( no student loans then) so I was working 6 evenings a week on top of full time at college. College was an hour and a half train away from my flat, work was half way between the two. I was exhausted!

Daniki · 28/12/2024 14:28

I was living in Australia, had just met my now husband, it was. It was a carefree existence!

Original poster
OkSoqhateo · 28/12/2024 14:29

SugarPlumpFairyCakes · 28/12/2024 14:23

He might find getting a job abroad and seeing a bit of the world would interest him?

Show quote history

DS has 2 big regrets in life currently. He's still not had his first girlfriend yet (every year it does bother him that he'll never find someone), and he isn't as well travelled as peers his age.

He told me that in 2025 he wants to start travelling more and to start with trips to Europe because these countries would be the most similar to the UK.

OP posts:
FuckItItsFine · 28/12/2024 14:30

At the start of the year I had to move back home with my parents from the central belt to N Scotland because I lost my job in the recession and couldn’t pay my bills. I started working in hospitality as a stop gap and finally got round to learning to drive and passing my test.

I had a good social life - used to go on nights out with my colleagues and also my best friend who was living nearby at the time. I had a FWB situation going on with my ex boyfriend which suited me down to the ground.

Later in the year I had a fling with an older (sleazy as hell looking back) guy who I’d met online and I then met my now DH and by the time I was 25 I had moved down to England to live with him.

It wasn’t until I was 29 that I actually figured out what I wanted to do as a job and began training, etc.

MarioLink · 28/12/2024 14:31

Almost 20 years ago for me. Had limited financial help from parents. Living with future husband, just bought house (that we still live in) at start of professional careers we are still in. Had pets. Saw old school friends fairly regularly, old uni friends rarely, socialised with colleagues a bit. Money was very tight.

Doseofdopamine · 28/12/2024 14:31

I'd just left a ltr, had been away from home since 16. Qualified in my profession at 24. Partied hard the rest of my 20's. Lots of raves, girls trips abroad and the likes.
Wonderful times. So much fun. No idea how I'm still alive 😂

driedapricots101 · 28/12/2024 14:32

Living in house share with best friends, working in PR, partying like mad most nights of the week and totally carefree. I do remember that feeling your son describes though- particularly on a Sunday! All I wanted was to find someone special & settle down. Life felt (& probably was) very vacuous.. Thank goodness it took me another 5 years to meet my Dh tho as looking back my 20s and that vacuous time were definitely some of the best years of my life. I hope your son can find a way to embrace the now of youth. I never did and it went in a flash!

SleepingStandingUp · 28/12/2024 14:32

Living with my father and his partner but we worked opposite shifts and I paid 1/3 of all costs so felt more like weird flat mates at times. Working full time and volunteering every weekend which constituted my social life. I'd attempted suicide at 22 so I still want really mentally very strong and my relationship with a guy 15 years older wasn't healthy

LaPalmaLlama · 28/12/2024 14:33

I was literally partying like it was 1999... because it was. Was living in London in a "Friends" type flatshare with my two friends from Uni - another flat of Uni friends just around the corner. Had a good job. Out every Thursday. Friday, Saturday nights and recovered on Sundays. Was a stranger to monogamy, vegetables and financial responsibility. Good times. Then when I was 25 I took a gap year (got a year of unpaid leave from my job) and went traveling. By the time I got back most people were much more settled and serious about work etc. but I was kind of ready for that so it was all good.

In response to the OP though, times are quite different now. People don't party as much and it's harder to move out and do the flatshare thing.

Penguinsn · 28/12/2024 14:34

I had just bought my first flat in London, 2 bed Victorian, zone 3, and rented out a room in it to a lovely girl from Italy studying a Masters at LSE to help pay the mortgage and for company, we are still in touch. Went to lots of parties with her and her friends.

Was working in political research and very involved in the general election including working with the Prime Minister. Lots of parties. Put up for a month in a 5 star hotel with swimming pool for that role. Pay was low and was nervous about mortgage so moved jobs to accountants which paid better but was boring and a few years down the line moved back to interesting roles then could get higher pay. Had a boyfriend. Life was pretty good.

MarioLink · 28/12/2024 14:35

My biggest regret is not travelling. I wanted to but felt controlled by my over protective family. I also wish I'd picked a more fun career but again felt certain expectations from my family and wanted money as quickly as possible.

VioletCharlotte · 28/12/2024 14:40

I was living with my ex DP and 4 month old baby in the house we had bought that year. On the face of it, life was good. I enjoyed my job, lots of friends and family. But beneath the surface, there was so much wrong, ex was a heavy weed smoker, did nothing to help round the house and we argued every other day. But in front of others, he was the perfect partner and father. I wish sometimes I could go back and have a word with my 24 year old self!

Redrosesposies · 28/12/2024 14:40

.

SereneCapybara · 28/12/2024 14:40

I was working in Italy, travelling around. I managed to get a close friend a job with the same company so we had a great time together.

Original poster
OkSoqhateo · 28/12/2024 14:40

DS lives with us to save money and he's happy to be with us. He doesn't really want to move out as he feels very comfortable with us.

OP posts:
Windcatcger · 28/12/2024 14:42

I had brought a little starter house with my now DH. Both working our butts off in a corporate jobs to climb the ladder and increase our salaries. Got engaged at 24 and we use to go out for night outs or meals….we weren’t ever massive drinkers.

username299 · 28/12/2024 14:43

I was doing a Masters in London. I was living with a neurotic, weird flatmate in Holloway. I worked part time behind a bar.

My social life consisted of festivals, pubs,raves and clubs.

NoraLuka · 28/12/2024 14:43

I was married to ExH, DD1 was a baby and DD2 on the way. I had just moved abroad and felt like my life was falling apart tbh.

RadFs · 28/12/2024 14:46

Toomanysquirrels · 28/12/2024 13:37

I was married and working up to 100 hour weeks as a junior doctor.

The marriage was happy but the job was miserable - too much responsibility with too little time to do it in, and not enough sleep.

Hi are you still a practising Dr? Horrendous number of hours to put in with little recognition.

Bbq1 · 28/12/2024 14:46

I was very happy. I was engaged to my husband. Just started working in my first "proper" job. I lived at home but then a few weeks before our wedding we moved into our first home, a rented flat.We were enjoying life, going out a lot and enjoying lots of trips away together. We were married 2 days after i turned 25. I'm still very happy in our marriage and with my life 28 years and one very ds later.

Upsidedownagain · 28/12/2024 14:48

It was 40 years ago, but a memorable year for me. I moved to London for my first professional job (though had been there the previous year doing a post grad course). Rented a room in someone's house who I was introduced to via my new employer. Had a boyfriend I'd known about a year who lived in another part of London that I met at a party some uni friends had. Got pregnant unintentionally while on the pill and didn't realise for several months - had a termination and realised my bf was lovely but not for me long term. Joined a social club my best friend belonged to and had a great social life subsequently.