What should a 21yr old life priorities be?

JQ.

I think the thing you're missing out on is living with other people. You'll be moving straight from your parents home straight into your own home. I left for uni at 18 and lived in shared rented accommodation from that age til I bought my frist house at 26. I learned so much from the people I lived with. These are not necessarily people you would normally be friends with, and as such I now how a very diverse cross-section of friends with all sorts of different views, music tastes, lifestyle choices etc etc. Living with people gives you are far better understanding of personalities and made me far more tolerant. I do think you will miss out on what I considered one of the most important parts of University.

Person_one

JQ. wrote: »

I think the thing you're missing out on is living with other people. You'll be moving straight from your parents home straight into your own home. I left for uni at 18 and lived in shared rented accommodation from that age til I bought my frist house at 26. I learned so much from the people I lived with. These are not necessarily people you would normally be friends with, and as such I now how a very diverse cross-section of friends with all sorts of different views, music tastes, lifestyle choices etc etc. Living with people gives you are far better understanding of personalities and made me far more tolerant. I do think you will miss out on what I considered one of the most important parts of University.

That's a great point. I have all sorts of friends all around the world thanks to 3 years of shared living at uni. Also, sharing is quite good prep for living with a partner at some point in the future! It teaches you all sorts about how to compromise and respect each other and it can be interesting to learn that the way things are done in your family home is not the way they are done everywhere, and that that's ok!

neas

well its why i suggested he buy he own home.. and rent 1-2 rooms out... same as a shared house and he can be 'building up equity'./

olias

If you are keen on travelling, then personally, I would say go for it and make it at least 6 months, maybe even 12 with a WHV somewhere like Oz?

It is highly unlikely there will ever be another occasion in your life when you can do this, and having travelled myself, and knowing or having met many others, I do not know of one person who has regretted it. You will have the time of your life.

When you return, you could get a job, buy the house, and know that you aren't/haven't missed out on anything. You will have had the university life - out with mates, social clubs etc etc. You will also have had the freedom of seeing the world - no committments, culture, history, wildlife, scenery, sport, outdoor pusuits etc etc.

The other benefit is that by then, hopefully the economy will be somewhat recovered (more employment prospects) and the worst of the housing crash will be over, meaning unlikely to start losing money on a newly purchased property.

Agree with the others though, that being sociable, it may be worth getting at least a 2 bed place and taking on a lodger/flatmate?

Olias

JQ.

neas wrote: »

well its why i suggested he buy he own home.. and rent 1-2 rooms out... same as a shared house and he can be 'building up equity'./

I actually don't think it is the same. I've lived in a house as a lodger (4 people sharing), had lodgers in my own house (3 sharing) and also lived in shared rented accommodation and there is a world of difference. In a lodged house you live by the rules of the owner, in a shared house you have to work it out for yourselves. Generally the type of people who lodge are very didderent to those in shared. In shared houses everyone invites their mates over, whether it be for drinks, parties, to watch movies and it's alot more relaxed. In Lodged you're always very consious that it's somebody elses house, no matter how relaxed they are. Some of the parties we've had in rented house are legendary - there's no way things like that would happen in lodged houses.

The reason I think shared accomm would be good for the OP is so he can cut-free, relax, meet lots of new people and live life a little. That is very unlikely to happen renting out a couple of rooms in his own house.

Simon11

Thanks for all the advice guys

I'm going to keep saving for a house, however saving doesn't meaning losing out on the fun side of life. I'm going to really enjoy my holiday after university

lottie176

Im currently 23 and am in the process of buying a house with my boyfriend, exchange should be next week... fingers crossed!!

I do not think age is what matters in buying a property. It's whether you feel ready in your life to buy one. I feel I have lived a bit, had my mad nights out with friends, amazing holidays and bought the flash new car etc that I wanted but personally for me its time to settle down and have a bit of responsibility. Some people may say that even I am young at 23 to be buying a house but age is just a number at the end of the day.

For now if I were you I would keep hold of your money, do the travelling you want to do, settle in to a full time job that you like and then think about buying a property. Travelling can be very expensive and you never know how long you'll be away for and you may only get to do it once so do everything you want to do, see everything you want to see and dont have any regrets .

Good luck with whatever you do!

Brallaqueen

I've just bought my first flat at the age of 27, and I wish I had done it earlier. I grew up very sheltered and petted - my mum refused to let me get a part time job until I was 18 because she was worried about me coming home at night etc - never learned to save a penny until much later on. Then again, regrets are pointless so I try to look to the future - what will *you* regret more in the years to come?

Fire_Fox

By 21 I had lived away from home for four years and was engaged, got married at 22 and bought my first property at 23. Nine years later I bought my current property outright as a result of being sensible with money in my twenties, it's wonderful being mortgage and rent free. :j

Having said that if you are going to buy, make sure you can afford a two bedroom place so you can move in a partner, let out a room, have overnight guests or work from home. Trading up every few years is a huge waste of money IMO - once you have paid estate agents, mortgage arrangement, surveys, legal fees and removals you have blown several grand.

ixwood

Go for it. The sooner the better!

I brought at 24 and a decade later, it was the best thing I ever done.