People who weren't in a relationship by 30, how did your life turn out?

[AnyPomegranate]

I'm turning 30 soon and I'm feeling a little down about being single. I was engaged but unexpectedly split from my fiancée last year, and it's proven a little isolating - basically all of my friends are married to men they met in their early 20s and are busy with married life. I'm happy being single and would rather that than settle, but it is exhausting having to carry absolutely every emotional and financial decision alone, especially now my friends have less time for me.

People who weren't 'settled' by 30, how did your life turn out? I'd love to hear stories from both people who met their partners a bit later as well as people who are thriving in the single life. Thank you!

I had been single for a while at 30. At 34 I happened to reconnect with an old friend who was also single. We got engaged when I was 35, married at 36, DC1 arrived when I was 39 and DC2 when I was 45 (both natural, albeit arrived a bit later & spaced further apart than I would have chosen - we got there in the end though for which I thank my lucky stars daily). Married 14 years so far and still happy. 30 is young and a lot can change in a few short years even if it doesn't feel like it at the time - you still have the best ahead of you x

I was single until 38, never had a relationship, and wad resigned to being so for the rest of my life, I was a week away from my last paid OLD membership ending and then I was calling it quits. I think I came to peace with it. Then a lovely email popped in from my (now) DH and that was that. We've been happily together for 14 years now and married for 8. No kids sadly but we're happy with our lot!

I was single at 30. I lived abroad. I came back to the UK and joined a dating organisation.

I met my dh at 33, we married at 36, had a child at 39, with help of fertility treatment. We then adopted a child when aged 49.

My life has turned out well but not been easy.

The dating services, the fertility treatment, and the adoption all needed planning and intention.

Became a single parent to 2 under 2 at 32. Am late 40s now and still single, wouldn’t change a single thing. My life is full with hobbies, pets and friends. What’s meant for you will always find you.

Single at 30, met ex dh at 32, all went too quickly, divorced at 51 but let it drag out ten years longer than it should have. Don’t be afraid to be single, it’s the best for me

I think might be outside your demographic as I was divorced by 29!

A mixture of poor or abusive relationships since then.

My life turned out very well thank you. Met DH at 32, got married quite quickly and then had two DSs. Still
married 30 years later.

Great. Met my now DH a few months after I turned 30. Work, family and marriage all good. Hang in there OP.

I wasn’t in a relationship at 30 , I met my partner at 33 got together at 34 and we got engaged at 36 and will be married at 37 and then trying for our first child inbetween.oh and I bought my first house at 34. I was in a serious relationship between the ages of 28-30 but he was horribly abusive and it took me a while to get over him.

Oh same! I was single at 30 having broken up from an 8 year relationship I thought would go the distance (he cheated, I was devastated etc). I met my husband about 3 months after I turned 30. We’re 40 now and I’m so so so happy I didn’t settle for a man who didn’t deserve me. I would have been so unhappy having kids with him, looking back he was awful and I put up with so much shit due to sunk cost fallacy (google it). My Husband was 31 when we met and had spent his 20s being super busy with work / travel / friends and had no baggage. I am happily married with 2 kids now.

Single at 27 after a 10 year relationship. All friends married/engaged/long term relationships, getting houses, thinking about babies. I had some casual relationships from online dating apps. I bought my first apartment with some financial help from my parents. Met my now fiance online at 32. Nearly seven years later we've sold the apartment, bought a house, gotten engaged and have two daughters. I do feel I was very lucky to meet him. But I also really enjoyed being single. Obviously there was some sad lonely times but overall I embraced it and had a ball!

I split up with my then partner a few months before I turned 30. To be honest, I knew it wasn’t the right relationship for me and knowing that my 30th was looming spurred me on to end it. I spent a year doing things just for me and really enjoying myself. I met my now DH when I was 32, and within 5 years we had married and had 2 kids.

For me, turning 30 was definitely a turning point in my life when I took a long hard look at what I did and didn’t want for my future

Terminally single but happy enough at 30. Got together with DH at 33, late 40s now and still happy.

I was in a shit on/off relationship when I turned 30. Lived in a flat on my own and absolutely loved it. Finally called that relationship off when I was about turn 31, weirdly met my future partner the very next day.
We didn’t start dating until I was 32, got engaged at 33 and had my first baby just before I turned 35. Now trying for a second baby aged 38.
For what it’s worth, at 34 there was only one mum younger than me in my ante natal class, and I’m certainly average age in the nursery pool. Many of the first time mums of small children I meet there are early-mid 40s. Granted, I am in London.
Your life is only just getting started! I wish I’d known at 30 what I know now - would have relaxed and enjoyed it all so much more!

Wow. This is exactly the same for me! Not your husband obviously….😂

OP, enjoy it. I was very single at 30 even though I was hot. I enjoyed my singleness as much as I could.

I was single from age 23 to 44. I loved being single and if I’d stayed single I would have been perfectly content.

I was single at 30, married at 40 and divorced at 50.

Single at 30. Met DH at 31. Been together 15 years and 3 DC. We are happier than ever.

I know 3 couples who were married in their 20s who are now divorced. Definiately better to hold out for the right person rather than settle for fear of being single. It will all work out in the end. If it hasnt worked out, it isnt the end.

I was relationship phobic in my 20s, I was having far too good a time. I was never short of offers, some I accepted and some I didn’t. I’m pleased I avoided serious commitment too young, I often read stories on here about tricky relationships of people in their 20s who have already been together around 10 years 😱
I first met DH when I was about 28, got together at 30, married at 32 and two kids at 35 and 43.

Met my husband at 40 and have been happily married for 20 years

Was single for most of my 20s after 5 year relationship ended at 23.

Met someone at 33 and thought I'd finally met someone I could plan a future with. He ended it 2 years later.

At 36 I met my partner, at 37 we bought a house, at 40 we had a child. We've now been together over 10 years.

I came out of a dreadful relationship, aged 27 and met my husband at 30. We have been together 25 years. Three children. Had my youngest when I was in my early forties.

I met my husband at 34, had my daughters at 38 and 41.
My life turned out well. I think by meeting my husband so late we already had our own lives, I had focused on career and eg pension savings so we have a bit more security.
My two closest friends were also single at 30. They both met men in their early 40s. One has since married and divorced, and has enjoyed career success and a lot of fun with the heartbreak, and one is still in a committed relationship though they keep separate houses which suits them both.

Life really is what you make it - a lot of happiness is being able to stay resilient when things don’t quite go as planned…

Depends on your marriage, my DH is so supportive. We actually feel like a team though ofc small DC and busy jobs are hard at times

Not me… but none of my female friends were in relationships at 30.

All went on to have serious relationships/get married, and all have children.