AIBU to wonder how you make new friends?

[corgiology]

I am 24 years old with a part time job 14 miles away in a different town. My colleagues are ok but not sure I would choose to socialise outside of work with them.

Not a mum yet
Tried volunteering in charity shops/other charity events in the past- I did meet an interesting assortment of people but no one my age or with similar interests
Had a look at the social groups advertised- they seem to be aimed at people over 40 minimum
Joined the local community centre and again there seems to be a lot of older people there

So where did you make new friends in your 20's?

I worked as a barmaid and met a good crowd of people that way.

I meant as a second job, not suggesting you change your current job.

In my 20s i made good friends at uni. Now in my 30s i have few friends. :(

There's a FB group called MN Social for MNers wanting to make friends if you'd like to join? There's some twenty somethings on there (in addition to 30/40/50-somethings) ??

I think Sunseed's idea is great...choose a local which attracts the sort of clientele you'd feel comfortable with. No point working in an old man's pub! As well as making friends, you'll make money. Win-win.

PM knightofswords to ask to join. It can be tricky to find unless she sends you an invite or you add her as a friend.

True about the pub jobs. Pretty much all the friends I have now are people I met when we worked in the pub together - over 20 years ago.

Any fitness groups you could join? Or just go to the council sports centre at a regular time/class and get chatting to other regulars?

Talk to everyone. Old or young.

I made one of my best, best friends at an evening class. 17 years ago! We both moved to the same city about the same time.

Try some evening classes (things like photography or pottery where there's lots of chat about what you are doing are good) or join a sports team or drama group or choir or rambling group or political party/pressure group. See if there are any local book clubs. Basically, think about things you like doing or would like to try and go to organised activities based on those.

Don't just go to one thing, try a few. Don't expect to make friends instantly, it takes time to get to know people well enough to sustain a conversation outside of the activity that you have in common. Don't discount people as friends because they are in their 30s or 40s or whatever. And remember the quote about friends for a reason, season or life. It's fine to have different levels of friends and sometimes you don't know where people fit in that until the friendship is tested. But the more friends for a reason or season you have the more likely you are to find the friends for life.

Lol, it was a photography class where I met my friend!

I agree with bluelamp
I am mid 40s and have friends ranging in age from late 20's up to mid 50's and I have met most of them through shared interests and hobbies. My best friend is in her 30s.

Its just as hard in your 30s.

I've tried mum groups, meet a mum things, joining facebook groups, doing evening classes, joining fitness classes, volunteering...

And I still have no friends! :(

What are your neighbours like?
Could you join a local gym? / go to a fitness class?
Friends of friends / colleagues?
Join / start a book club?
Get chatting to people in your local shop / hairdresser / library etc?
Evening class?