to think most 30 somethings have a good life

[howiloveanicecupoftea]

I was talking to DP yesterday at how comfortable and lucky most 30 somethings lives seem to be these days. He said he didn't think that was the case at all but from what I see everyone has nice families with well dressed kids, nice holidays, cars, clothes etc. I didn't know if I was deluded or whether that really is the case- or not as DP seems to think!

[twobambinos]

Appearances can be deceiving.

Today im wearing threadbare tracksuit bottoms because they are comfy and I'm a bit wrecked from the 2 dds. Dh and I both drive cars that are almost 10 years old and have enough saved that we could buy two new ones but we prefer to have the money saved in case one of us loses our job and the cars are running fine. We do still have a nice holiday every year and if I want to treat myself to something I don't have to think too hard about it.

Other friends we have would have much larger houses, much newer cars, well dressed kids, lots of nights out holidays and huge debt.

[MaliceInWonderland78]

Cory I get what you're saying, but my point was that most eople aren't capable of getting god degrees from good universities. We need to acknowledge that not everyone should go to university- though the option (based on ability) should be there for all.

I've also been around long enough to know that hard work (though usually) doesn't always guarantee success. As I've said up thread, some of those in our circle have benefitted from substantial inheritances. That's just an accident of birth.

[KindDogsTail]

All our friends fit into what you've described, most of us work in Finance and have good careers

But hundreds of thousands of people, including people with good degrees do not.

Yes, bankers and so forth may be fine.

[PortiaCastis]

Im 35 and a single Mum but I own my house mortgage free. Purely down to inheritance, my Dad died and left me some money which I used to buy this house. I don't have a top job, I do accounts for a local company plus a bit of admin. Only got this job because the company owner is a friend of my family.
In my case I have been lucky in house and job but I'm divorced and have a 17 yr old dd to care for. I would rather my Dad was still alive and my marriage had worked out

[maggiethemagpie]

I am towards the end of my 30s and have a pretty good standard of living, own a house with 50 %of the mortgage paid, 2 kids under 5, work from home doing an interesting job for ok money. We do feel fortunate. However I have chronic health problems that very nearly led to permanent serious disability and still could one day, which scares the living shit out of me.


All in though I don't think I've had a bad deal.

[Osirus]

I'm in my 30s. We have a good standard of living, savings, and we own our own home (mortgaged, which we didn't find difficult to obtain - it was easy and I don't consider we have huge salaries by any means - £60kish between us).

Every friend I have who is in their 30s also owns their own home. I live in the south.

So from my experience, my view would be similar to OP but I'm not naïve enough to think that others don't have it really tough.

[justalittlelemondrizzle]

I don't think you're looking at the bigger picture. The country as a whole. Im 30 and if I was looking at people in my circle there is a broad range of circumstances. I know people my age who are having two story extensions built on their houses as well as buying range rovers and having a couple of foreign holidays a year and there's some who rent their home from the council, work for minimum wage and struggle by. I'd say it's a 50/50 split. I'd say I'm somewhere in the middle. Own our home, have a car modest each and dc's have nice clothes (unlike me ) but by the end of the month were pretty skint.
Are you basing your assumptions on what people post on Facebook? If so I'd take what you see with a pinch of salt.

[justalittlelemondrizzle]

That should read "Modest car*"