Did you spend your twenties travelling, or building a career, or having kids or

[Threebiscuitsandacupoftea]

just keeping your head above water?

Interested in how people spent their twenties. And what are you focusing on now, in comparison?

Due to ill health, mine were basically all on the struggle bus I mean, yes I did have a fair amount of fun thank goodness, but never travelled as too expensive. Never managed to do anything of note.

I'm in better health now as I approach 40 compared to young adulthood, and would like to carve out a little bit of a career for myself. Have a few places I'd love to visit if it is possible one day.

What about you?

I had a chronic health condition so my twenties were ruined sadly. No income, no fun.

Married at 21, full-time career as a pharmacy technician. Never had or wanted kids, so just me and DH until I lost him last year (we were married for 47 years) Just me and my dog now. I retired Jan 2020.

Studying and being crazy
It took 11 years to qualify as my profession requires a undergraduate, masters and PhD. I had long term mental health problems that made this a longer and more difficult journey.

I think we did it pretty OK actually.

Worked really hard building careers, buying property, renovating. Got married young-ish (27), did a lot of travelling, partying with mates.

I reckon it was a good balance as now have property and assets and good careers in 30s so well established for kids.

Still work hard in careers but now the partying has been replaced by kid stuff.

My 20s were focused on my career, and buying my house. Then in my 30s I had a global job so combined earning & travelling.

Then came home and had a baby in the 40s.

I spent my twenties building a career, leaving a cult and getting divorced, having my teenage years, meeting The One and getting married again just before I was 30.

In education at various times and also with ill health. Very little money to speak of. Had a lot of friends, though, enjoyed meeting people from all around the world.

Now late 60s, totally different life with DP, no kids. Comfortable financially. Have chronic ill health though and no amount of money fixes that! Am happy, however.

A mix - I travelled loads and built a great career, but I was also in a five year relationship that should have ended after three, and I wish I'd had a bit more time to be selfish and live alone before I met DH when I was 29!

Bought a house early 20s, got married and had kids by late 20s, fell into a job by chance that I love and am well established in now. Do I wish I'd 'lived my life' a bit more? sometimes, but equally I look at friends now in my 30s who are struggling to buy property and are just starting their families and I personally am so glad I did what I did, when I did! Roll on late 30s and 40s when DH and I can enjoy child free weekends as kids will be older and we can head off on weekend breaks, but also be able to afford amazing family holidays together

Graduated.

Travelled with my boyfriend. We then moved in together. Got engaged. Then married at 25.

Became parents at 27.

At the time/in our early 30s we'd sometimes get down that we were still in our first (small) home while friends had freedom/moved/travelled more/got better jobs etc.

But now years later I'm very glad we were the first married/to have kids. Almost 40 and some of our friends just have newborn #1, others with a toddler and pregnant with number 2 etc.

I'm back at work FT. We've caught up with the house moves and jobs etc.

And we're getting full nights sleep and a level of independence is back.

Wouldn't change the path we took. But understand why others chose theirs.

We had fabulous 20s both DH and I. 30s I guess were more of a struggle with a young family, covid and also some hard times with our parents' health etc.

But 40s (touch wood) looks like maybe it'll be a good decade for both of us.

I spent my 20s traveling the world and then moving to a new country at 28.

30s we're marriage, babies and career.

Now I'm 44 and planning for my retirement in 11 years, when I can start traveling properly again.

20-22 Continuing on from teenage years -clubs, bars, drinking too much.

22-25 Met partner, went on holidays, travelled, left my job and found somewhere else.

25 - moved in, got engaged and married

26 - got pregnant, miscarriage.

27 - got pregnant again, now have a son.

20-21: Finish university and went on a three week European tour with my friend.

22-23: Had a nervous breakdown and had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. At this time I was still an undiagnosed autistic.

24-27: Did a graphic design national diploma.

28: Moved down to London to do an internship at my friend's workplace and never left. Job hopped my way up the ladder until I found my current job.

29: Met my husband ❤️

My 30s have so far been spent travelling, getting married, buying a house and going through a lot of heart ache to have our son (and hopefully a second soon too!).

I finished university, worked hard developing a career I loved and partied very hard with a fair bit of travel, then had my first child in my late 20s. My twenties were great, actually - full of excitement and adventure and firsts,

My thirties were a bloody slog, though.

Loving my forties 🙏

Mostly building career, getting smashed after work with the other ECPs, rocking up the next day still losses and holding it together.

This gen don't behave like we did.

None of the above? I went to university graduated at 22 and then again at 28. Worked few differnet decent jobs but I wouldn't call it career building, I work but I don't consider having a career. I did travel few times a year but not like 6 month backpacking through SE Asia way, but like a few city breaks a year and a beach holiday and a few prolonged abroad experiences. Went to parties but defo not a partier. Didnt have a lot of relationships/hook ups. I didn't waste my 20's but I also can't say that I spend it doing x. I just existed and pottered along.

I've never really found my place. Everything feels a bit temporary. I haven't taken a mug to work cause I can't be asked to take it back home when I quit (been there for 8 years), I don't want to buy a flat in case life situstion changes, I can't be asked to look for a new job cause maybe me and bf will relocate, can't be asked to decorste current home cause maybe I'll buy a flat and then I can do that. I'm one of these.

Had kids, got married, miserable because awful controlling marriage, got divorced just before my 30’s and so far so good

I trained as a teacher in my 20s, got married at 24, dh qualified as a dr at 25.

We travelled, bought a house in a far flung area, and had dd1 when we were both 29. Great decade.

In our 30s we had 2 more dc and didn't let them stop the travelling - we went backpacking and just took them too. Until school became an issue.

Now they're all grown up and we're planning more trips - last big one was to the IceHotel in Sweden for our silver wedding in 2019. Hoping for Barcelona and possibly the canaries next year.