I’m 26, and I’m not saving for a house or planning to move out

[WeCouldBeNice]

And apparently that’s a very unpopular decision amongst certain family members.

I have grown up always listening to my mum and grandmother saying that they regretted not travelling more in their youth. So I’m doing it, before I can have any regrets.

i work a job that pays just under £25k. Moving out would be miserable. I’d exist to pay my bills and nothing more. I am unable to borrow enough to even purchase a flat in my local area. So I’m spending all my money on travelling instead. Short trips. Weekends away and longer European trips next year.

my older brothers are horrified by this (despite both doing it themselves). They think I should be moved out and renting by now.

my dad turned round to them yesterday and asked if they wanted to ever see their daughters struggling and unhappy. They obviously said no, so he asked why they expected that of me. They couldn’t really answer.

theoretically I could take the money I’m putting into my travel savings each month and use it to save for a house. But I’d never get a big enough deposit to allow me to buy anything even anywhere near decent to live in. And I’d then be bound to a mortgage and never be able to do anything other than sit at home.

is it really that bad to do this?

Life is for living how you want to OP. If you're happy then great, but don't totally discount the future - put a little away for future you!

DSis did as you did and spent years travelling and loved it. I doubt she would ever regret those times and it has made her who she is today. However, I otped for a different path and spent time studying and working PT and then went straight into a FT job after uni and worked long hours to get myself established in my profession. Saved lots whilst living at home for 2 years. Then bought first small house with DH (we weren't married then). We've moved a couple of times since then and made a bit of money on each house which has set us up in a nice comfortable life and home (which we afford due to accruing equity on the other homes) and we've got 2 kids now (I'm 36). Meanwhile, DSis decided to settle down and now has 2 small kids but can only afford a tiny 2 bed maisonette due to sky high rent costs. She can't buy as she never saved any money, and didn't prioritise moving up the career ladder in her earlier years - now with her kids it's hard to save or get promoted at work so she's a bit stuck.

Both ways are not 'wrong' or 'right'.... but I can see the stress it causes DSis so my advice would be to travel and have fun but keep an eye on the future by putting a small amount away monthly. It'll give you options when you eventually meet someone, want kids, or find yourself wanting independence away from your parents.

Asking me if I "suffered through the current crisis", talking about how hard life is, saying that you're never going to retire and the casually dropping into the conversation that your parents own 5+ properties...😂

Bless your heart.

Enjoy your "travelling" (P.S. travelling and going on holiday a lot are different things!) and bask in the knowledge that you are never going to struggle, but please don't compare your life to the lives of people who actually have faced poverty and know that they will again if they don't prepare for the future.

Well yes it’s certainly different but it being different does not make it inherently unhealthy .

Having a high income at 22 is rather unusual though.

Nobody.
Honestly, your replies to anyone who doesn't completely agree with everything you say tell us you really do need to grow up and experience the world a bit, not just as a holiday!

Eh?
The whole of Scotland isn't a deprived area.

Welcome to reality.

Plus, I would imagine it was the norm more for my Grandparents generation, I know my Granny lived with her husband and youngest sister and her parents in the 30s/40's but after the second world war, my grandparents even moved on from that notion as did my great aunts and uncles, they wanted their own space presumably for a reason that it is stifling and doesn't really work as all the domestic burden would fall on my Granny like a housekeeper for 6 people. The work always falls on the woman ok her 40s so the mum, the daughter, the sister to a brother!

They aren't. Do you own digging.
They are showing grad scheme salaries but not necessarily London.
Even the lowest salary of just under £29K was for grads with 15 months' work experience.

You're on a very low salary for someone with a degree and who has been working(perhaps) for 5 years.

I assume your job is not graduate level and is a job anyone could do with A levels or fewer qualifications.

You do you, OP! When I was your age, I had owned my own properties for 5 years, and was able to still go skiing and a summer holiday each year, with mine and DH’s fairly low earnings.
It’s completely different these days, and if you’re unable to rent anywhere for less than half your take-home pay, then it’s not worth it, if you’re able to stay at home and fulfil your dream of travelling.
I would recommend saving some money though, just in case of emergencies…

I agree it is pointless to move out and pay rent when you have the option to stay at home and have disposable income. Also take your point about buying a house seeming impossible so the temptation is to not try. But what actually is your plan? I’ve read through all your posts (including the one about your parents owning multiple properties!) and it sounds like either a) you are relying on inheritance from your wealthy parents or b) you don’t have a plan and are just magically hoping life will work out for you.

Its your life and the choices are yours, but its either an exceptionally privileged position to be in to not have to worry about having a plan, or a very niave one

If your parents have no problems with you living at home and spending your money travelling, by all means do what you want.

At 26 though, I'd be planning a bit more about my future, and moving out will be top of the agenda. Yes. it's easy to live with your parents and have fun but you are postponing the difficult decision of being an adult - move out and be fully independent.

She doesn't need to live in reality. The drip feed is that her parents own multiple properties and her future is already sewn up. Talk about tone deaf.

I think there is more to this than you're saying about your career-path and low income.

I may be wrong but my guess is you didn't get a 'proper job' when you graduated, but started at the bottom of the ladder where you are now, but not at 21/22.

And part of that was possible because your parents are happy to fund you as they are very wealthy.

That's fine- many grads take a while to find a permanent job and take on all kinds of low paid work. But my guess is you aren't career driven as you see your parents as providers/ back up.

That’s a choice to make it all fall on the women. My last brother left home at 28 (which my mom was sad about). He left to move in with his girlfriend (who was also living at home) and they purchased a property together shortly after. When he lived at my mother’s house he had chores and to pay housekeeping.

I don’t see why multigenerational living is seen as inherently unhealthy.

In a way though OP you wouldn't be able to do this if your Mum had done the same. I think intergenerational living as a cultural norm came to an end post second world war, my Mum was young woman in the sixties and early 70s and just rejected the role of carer by default for every different generation member.

Could you elaborate on those experiences? It would be interesting to see where your travels have taken you.

Oh right, well it's not really a dilemma for the OP then I suppose.

OP I'm probably a bit closer in age to you than most people on here- I don't see anything wrong with your plan! No need to line a landlord's pockets if your mum and dad are happy. Would recommend saving a little bit, maybe you will meet someone nice and buying together is a bit more achievable.

I think it’s getting more obvious she’s speaking from a place of privilege.

Mainly following f1 around at the moment, plus some wonderful trips to London.

NRTFT

I want this for my DDs!

I was working jobs long before I turned 16, at 16 I was paying “board” and working multiple jobs to cover this and still have money to enjoy, but the more jobs I got the more board I was expected to pay. I left home finally at 19 and worked multiple jobs to survive. Then I met a couple of girls through one of my bar jobs who were working extra jobs to save for a round the world trip. It was a few years later after a very nasty blow out with my abusive mother I thought fuck it and packed up, bought a one way ticket to Australia and left. Over the next 15 years I got to travel but I was always struggling cash wise, working multiple jobs etc just to pay rents & bills and enjoy very budget travelling.

I have told my DDs I want them to get an education ( I don’t even have GCSEs) and once they have done that travel and see the world. Home will always be there for them to come back to and although I do expect them to contribute to living expenses I won’t be taking large sums from them so they can save their money to enjoy their life’s.

Yes, I've just read that.
No doubt this thread was just some attention seeking.

I do find it interesting that people seem angry about me living at home but not my younger brother

Why should I charge him rent simply for existing and being in his childhood home?