Asking what I should do while I'm still young.

[Teadrinker11]

I'm 26 and conscious that while I'm getting older, I'm still somewhat young ish and from wasting so many previous years want to do what kind of things I should be doing either for fun or for insurance to avoid regret while I'm older. What do you think? What kind of things should I be doing while I'm still somewhat young?

Don’t assume that older people have wasted their youth.

Enjoy being young. My twenties were a riot of clubbing, travelling, poor decisions and endless laughs. There's plenty of time to be a grown up. I'm way older now and even with my misspent youth, I had a fab career and have some amazing memories to look back on. Get out there and live it up!

If you haven't already try to find the physical activity/ies you enjoy and do them as often as possible.
Hula Hooping, yoga, swimming, badminton, tag rugby, anything just to make the most of a limber body.
Also travel, but that's just because I love travelling and my tolerance for hostels was a lot higher in my 20s!

Save hard, look after your teeth and your waistline.

If you're not already in a relationship/married then date a lot.

If you've always dreamed of travelling and are financially able then travel.

If you are in a relationship and longing for a baby then have one when you're young and there will likely be fewer complications.

If you are very academic then pursue a MSc/PhD if you don't already have one.

If you are very career oriented then work your way up, in your chosen career path.

It all depends on who you are and what your values are!

Do not rush to settle down with the wrong person but don't let the right person go.

Appreciate your beauty and health.

Live and work abroad. There are so many benefits for you and your children. I spent my early and mid twenties living and working in 3 different countries and only put down roots once my son was a bit older and due to start primary school. I dont regret it for a minute and would reccommend it to anyone.

Travel, prioritise having fun and take more risks. There is plenty of time later for being sensible and cautious.

Find exercise you love and if you get a chance to see a band you love always take it!

If you meet someone that you choose to get romantically involved with (rather than just having fun which I highly recommend) question whether it's somewhere that you see a future with. I spent far too long with the wrong person just because we got along and no one did anything wrong. So happy that I ended it and met someone I'm much better suited to.

Travel solo, it's so cathartic. I wish I took advantage of having evenings and weekends free to go and do things on my own rather than thinking I always had to be with other people. Then again you might thrive on the company of others, in which case I'd say join a club that will hopefully produce good friendships.

Travel and pension.

When DH and I were in our early twenties we didn’t mind sleeping in very basic hotels/hostels and really didn’t make the most of it which is my one huge regret. Now I just wouldn’t stay in those places and with kids holidays are great but very different.

Even a small amount in a pensions pot now would see big increases in your working lifetime and really help later in life

Definitely not fun but I wish I’d spent more care on my teeth, either that or started saving for them to be fixed, astronomical amount!

Travel, make friends, try different things to work out what you are interested in and what you would really like to do for a living. Have fun but don't treat your twenties as an extended adolescence.

Personally I think 26 is time to invest in yourself and in your future. By that I mean skills/education/qualifications to improve your earning potential. Now you should have a rough idea what you want to do for a living, improve on that.
Invest in hobbies and friendships.
Pension, houses and financial security will come naturally later in life if you invest in yourself now. Putting 10% away or starting a pension are sound advice but I rather spend that money on learning new skills and trying new hobbies.

Travel as much as you can.

If you haven't got a pension going yet then do that and put in as much as you can.

Travel and make mistakes. Don't settle with partners, find a gooden. Then get on the property ladder and get where you want to be in your career before starting a family (if that's what you want to do).

As per PP

• start a regular savings (for house deposit, rainy day etc)
• start a pension pot
• stop and think what do you want to "accomplish" with your "fun" money.

If you want to get pished - fine! If you want to travel - great! If you want a gorgeous wardrobe - lovely! It doesn't matter what it is BUT don't do it mindlessly.

of you have any weight to lose.. do it now. as its 100 times harder in a few yrs

As someone staring down the barrel of 50, I agree with all the above - I have no pension and have wasted 20+ years with two unsuitable partners. I have my DCs so don’t regret it, but I do envy those who have got the right man, didn’t settle, have a good career and pension etc. my old age looks more than a little basic as I don’t have a high earning job or a pension, will be living on the equity in my house unfortunately, so I’m lucky to at least have that (and by lucky I mean that both my parents died, so I got an inheritance to invest ). Appreciate the special people in your life - especially the older ones. Look after your skin and teeth, keep good boundaries and make sure that every choice you make takes you closer to your goals. The fact that you’re already thinking this way is a sign that you’ll be fine! Enjoy being young - it goes in a flash.

I am going to tell you what I wish an older adult could have told me when I was your age. Start a pension (privately or with work),save enough to have a cushion for rainy days (minimum 6 months of bills and expenses),get yourself on the property ladder in some shape or form (a flat, an area that is not gentrified,shared ownership). Travel abroad . I know,all boring stuff apart from the travel bit ...BUT if I started all the above at your age I would be in such a better shape financially now that I am 50 years old.

Go traveling
Save money, even if a small amount
Use sun protection everyday
Sleep
Exercise and eat well

@M0rT

If you haven't already try to find the physical activity/ies you enjoy and do them as often as possible. Hula Hooping, yoga, swimming, badminton, tag rugby, anything just to make the most of a limber body. Also travel, but that's just because I love travelling and my tolerance for hostels was a lot higher in my 20s!

Yes mine too - even shared dorms in hostels, shudder!!

These days I need my own hotel room than sharing with a friend

Wear sunscreen everyday

Start your pension

Travel.
Spend time with friends - make time for them.
Say yes to things that make you happy, especially if they scare you a bit.