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Original poster

What do you wish you’d done differently in your 20s

71 replies

JKDcot · 20/08/2023 22:21

Random one. I wish I’d listened to my parents and seen a dentist and hygienist between ages 18- early 30s. I left it too long and have gum disease, bone loss etc. spent a lot of money trying to sort it now. But the story is always “the damage has been done”.

what does everyone else wish they’d done differently?

OP posts:
LooselyBasedOnAMadeUpStory · 20/08/2023 22:28

Drank less alcohol.
Saved more money.

BrawnWild · 20/08/2023 22:29

Dumped my waster ex 4 years earlier.

OctoblocksAssemble · 20/08/2023 22:30

Learned to drive, gone to uni

BananaSlug · 20/08/2023 22:31

Not had children

RhymesWithTangerine · 20/08/2023 22:31

Travelled and worked abroad

Less alcohol - more exercise

GonnaGetGoingReturns · 20/08/2023 22:32

Got married. Looked into other careers. Travelled more.

1stepforward2stepsback · 20/08/2023 22:32

Bought a house when they were cheaper.

Believed that I was worthy of a better paid job instead of taking the first one I was offered.

Had higher expectations of relationships and not tolerated poor behaviour.

Dinosaursdontgrowontrees · 20/08/2023 22:32

Bought a flat/house and not wasted all my money on getting pissed and rent.

Acuppaisbetterthanprosecco · 20/08/2023 22:34

Bought a flat in London when I could have afforded it!

Getabloominmoveon · 20/08/2023 22:34

Bought a flat in Shoreditch for 70k, not smoked, drank and ate less, appreciated being young and attractive.

converseandjeans · 20/08/2023 22:35

Saved more money
Not smoked dope (I believe it has led to health issues)
Travelled more

HundredMilesAnHour · 20/08/2023 22:36

Been diagnosed with AHDH (instead of when I was 53!). Life could have been very different. That includes making better choices with men and money.

HundredMilesAnHour · 20/08/2023 22:36

Sorry, ADHD!

continentallentil · 20/08/2023 22:37

Bought a flat

started a pension

continentallentil · 20/08/2023 22:37

HundredMilesAnHour · 20/08/2023 22:36

Been diagnosed with AHDH (instead of when I was 53!). Life could have been very different. That includes making better choices with men and money.

Oh this too, but I guess it would have been pretty impossible..

Peachespeachesohpeaches · 20/08/2023 22:38

Spent less time worrying what people thought and less time thinking I was fat

Should have spent more time seeing the world and pushing out of my comfort zone

Original poster
JKDcot · 20/08/2023 22:38

So much about buying houses and not drinking… I doubt anyone 20-30 now will say that in 20 years!

OP posts:
ConnieTucker · 20/08/2023 22:39

Changed careers.

Toddlerteaplease · 20/08/2023 22:41

Found a husband.

VestaTilley · 20/08/2023 22:41

Worked harder at uni and got a 2.1. Then hit properly qualified for a profession or on a career path for a better job. Saved more money. Learnt to drive. Travelled more. Gone out more. Got fit. Done a Masters.

Writing it down is rather depressing, but I managed a lot as well, and met DH, did do a decent amount of travelling and got a degree and some good jobs even if I think they are boring now so it’s not all bad!

Tibbb · 20/08/2023 22:42

Things got better after the age of 26, but from 20-25:

Not listened to my DM who thought the sun shone out of abusive boyfriend's butt Sad

Not been DM's constant shoulder to cry on when she and DF divorced.

Travelled.

Rented a place on my own.

Saved money and not got into card and loan debt.

Appreciated and respected the good job and possible career path I had - brought to an end at 25 by a stupid action on my part which involved whistleblowing.

sleepD3pr1ived · 20/08/2023 22:42

Got into the habit of saving money

Known my worth and aimed higher in personal relationships and career wise too.

Grapewrath · 20/08/2023 22:45

Nothing- what’s done is done and I just feel that the sliding doors moments may mean success in the areas we missed but may deprive us of opportunities now or in the future.

Tibbb · 20/08/2023 22:49

Tibbb · 20/08/2023 22:42

Things got better after the age of 26, but from 20-25:

Not listened to my DM who thought the sun shone out of abusive boyfriend's butt Sad

Not been DM's constant shoulder to cry on when she and DF divorced.

Travelled.

Rented a place on my own.

Saved money and not got into card and loan debt.

Appreciated and respected the good job and possible career path I had - brought to an end at 25 by a stupid action on my part which involved whistleblowing.

To be clear - I blew the whistle on criminal activity and it went down like a lead balloon. The person carrying out the criminal activity made a complaint about me and I ended up resigning rather than be dismissed.

BLT24 · 20/08/2023 22:50

Saved money
Not got into debt
Bought a property