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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

What was your life like in 2005?

202 replies

AbsentmindedWoman · 06/08/2021 23:27

I was 20 and life was so, so easy compared to now. Just had such a sense of having plenty of time, and that the future was going to be great. I was at uni and loved my course, the people I met etc. It seems like yesterday in one way, can't believe it's so long ago.

What was your life like in 2005?

OP posts:
Twotinydictators · 07/08/2021 06:41

I was 23, insecure, pretty unhappy, with no direction. I yearned for the life I have now (house, two kids, stable happy marriage, job that pays reasonably well). It's probably not quite the bed of roses I imagined but I appreciate I'm very lucky.

Arsebucket · 07/08/2021 06:41

I was 25, I had a three year old ds, married to ex h, no money worries (I could pop out and buy clothes/things for ds/have linch out on a whim, unlike now where every penny is accounted for and I can’t even buy a coke).

I had lovely friends that I’d made at baby groups,
my 25th birthday was wonderful - it’s the only one ever that I have celebrated. Went out with a big group of those friends for lunch then drinks all day/eve.

I was always out and about with ds and those friends and thier kids. I had a huge halloween party that year, christmas was. spent with a friend and her family first (and last) time ever.

I was slim and healthy.

The. 2006 came and life turned to shit, each year since then has got worse, at the point of giving up 15 years on Sad I wish I would live that life again just for one day.

ProfYaffle · 07/08/2021 06:44

Great year for me. I was still coming to terms with the trauma of dh's brain surgery the year before. The critical illness insurance paid out and we became mortgage free in our early 30s and I gave up a job I hated to be a sahm to my year old dd.

Twokitstwokats · 07/08/2021 06:44

In 2005 I finished my degree, on top of the world! I went to Glastonbury festival, took off in a van with my boyfriend around Europe for 6 weeks, spent 3 months working and travelling in South America.

Onlinedilema · 07/08/2021 06:51

I was married to my ex h and a sahp to my 3 children. Would probably have been on holiday abroad now, I can't remember as we went every year to different places. Lived in a large detached house.
If we weren't abroad, I would have been enjoying the summer holidays with the kids whilst my ex h no doubt would be working very long hours.

Musication · 07/08/2021 06:54

Carefree! Most of it was spent on a lovely gap year working in an amazing role in London. In the October I went to uni and made fantastic life long friends. It was a great year.

Roselilly36 · 07/08/2021 07:02

Very busy but happy time, I had a 4 y old and a 2 y old at the time.

DisgruntledPelican · 07/08/2021 07:07

I was at uni, just started dating now-DP, living in a nice rented flat in a lovely part of the city. Went to New York for the first time that autumn and fell in love with the city.

It seems like a million years ago.

Alreadyexhausted · 07/08/2021 07:08

I was 21, just left uni, started my first job which i loved. living with friends and just got together with my now husband.

Life was fun, lots of parties, hanging out with friends, planning holidays, I started an art class in the evenings.

A time of little responsibility and the future felt bright.

Life has been mostly kind to me. I now have my dream job ( although it's a hard job) married almost 10 years and 2 young DC. That life of fun seems so long ago now. I'm lucky to get a few hours to myself a week now and seeing friends is a luxury.

I think covid and worries climate change have changed that future is bright feeling. Although 2005 9/11 and what unfolded after was still fresh in my mind and felt it changed the feeling of the time.

Raffles1981 · 07/08/2021 07:12

DramaAlpaca
It's only 16 years ago, not that long if you're as old as me! I'd just gone back to work part time after taking a long career break while my children were small. It felt great, like I'd started to get 'me' back again.

This is where I am now! In a week, I will start back full time in a job I want and I'm beyond excited to find myself again.

I had just bought a house with my boyfriend. He worked away all week so I had the whole house to myself, friends came over, we danced til the early hours, drank, smoked cigarettes... It was a good time. Work was only a two minute walk away. It was a good time.

pleasenomoreisolation · 07/08/2021 07:12

Aged 17, got my driving licence. Clubbing, parties, friends, drugs, living for the weekend. Had been with what was to become my DS' dad (long now an ex) for a year. I'd say it was one of my favourite years of my life so far. I flunked sixth form, and I know my mum was hugely worried about me, so I'm less proud of that part. But I turned out ok in the end, and had a great time in the process!

SimonJT · 07/08/2021 07:13

Is had just turned 17, the first 3/4 months were spent crashing on friends sofas, the later part of the year I moved to London and lived on my cousins sofa for a few weeks before getting help to rent a room. I had three jobs to keep myself going, all cash in hand. In the September I went back to college to complete my a-levels.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 07/08/2021 07:14

I was 15 so still at school. My mum had a new partner who I didn't get on with, they got married the following year. Much prefer my life now.

ZenNudist · 07/08/2021 07:15

Hopeful but stressful and more relaxed in my free time. I actually had free time to myself! I was 26. I worked long hours. Moved to a new job I liked (hence hopeful). Spent weekends with now dh sleeping in Reading actual papers and cooking / seeing friends.

KingdomScrolls · 07/08/2021 07:22

It was great, I was at uni having a ball, living with my friends going out a lot, my degree was interesting, I'd discovered rowing, formal dinners, summer balls etc which for a kid from a state comp was new.

Subeccoo · 07/08/2021 07:25

I was 26 and had my 3rd child. I hated my husband and spent the next 2.5 years planning to leave him.
I was a weird person, not very stable.
Pleased to report that 16 years on, life is very very good.

Pogostemon · 07/08/2021 07:26

I was in my early thirties. I had just finished my Masters, which I’d done alongside a very busy full time job, and I was exhausted. My generous employers let me have four months unpaid leave to travel, so I went round the world with a a backpack. Had never had the time or resources before. I came home completely refreshed and ready for everything again. It was a vintage year for me!

HarebrightCedarmoon · 07/08/2021 07:27

I was 29 and had my first child. Busy, fun, challenging, and suddenly very different!

NamiSwan · 07/08/2021 07:27

Like you, I was 20 in 2005. Having a great time in uni, had a relatively new boyfriend (now my husband), going out loads and having fun with friends with zero responsibilities.

BUT the flip side of that was I was also very anxious, insecure and had no idea what I would do in my life. I didn't feel fulfilled and was stressed about a lot of things (family issues).

I have three kids, a husband, mortgage and career now. Less time for socialising and lots more responsibilities to worry about. But honestly am the happiest I've ever been. I've been very fortunate. I also feel much more fulfilled and self confident. So despite how much more "care free" my life was back then, I'm much happier now. I hope this feeling lasts! Sometimes I feel like I'm at the peak of my life right now and want to appreciate ever second of it.

MeanderingGently · 07/08/2021 07:28

2005? I wouldn't go back. Son had left home, daughter at University who would go on to have serious health problems. Dating a bloke who turned out to be shit, wish I'd saved all my emotional energy. Changed jobs to do a HUGE commute to London from up north every day but would later go on to leave the job, leave my home and relocate down south in a residential post which suited me much better instead.
Had my first attack of an illness, which I thought was due to the stress of it all, but which would later turn out to be a deteriorating chronic condition which still affects my life today......

BabyPotato · 07/08/2021 07:29

I was really anorexic then so I was probably in my flat counting calories and freezing and not seeing anyone. What a waste of time. Things started looking better in 2008 though and I'm doing pretty well these days. Grin

FatAnkles · 07/08/2021 07:38

I got married, we had no kids.

Life was easy

bigcitynights · 07/08/2021 07:38

Very carefree. I finished my A Levels in June and had a great summer of working to save money, partying and dating. Got my results and into my first choice of university. Then at the end of August I went off to SE Asia for nine months. Everything seemed optimistic and possible then - I'm sure it was just my age, rather than life being "better" then.

Mummyoflittledragon · 07/08/2021 07:39

Life was brilliant and carefree. Married and happy. Had my health. Money coming out of our ears and living abroad. Great time. Had been ttc for a while so still no kids.

Camomila · 07/08/2021 07:41

First year of 6th form amd having a great time, enjoying ny A-levels, spending ny part time job money on extra dance lessons and going to gigs. Had a bit of a rubbish clingy boyfriend though.