Is it just me?

marisco_2

Okay so at 24 you have a job that gives you satisfaction, which even though it doesn't pay too well affords you to run a car. There is also the chance of promotion and you are going to study part time. So this suggests to me that there is the possibility for growth and to improve your prospects. If you put some hard graft in now, then after a reasonable amount of time you could put by a fair amount of savings. Once your career is stable and paying better you will be able to afford a rental place or look at getting on the property ladder. You are also in a relationship with someone you describe as an amazing partner. Many people would be envious of your current position and not view your life as being at a standstill at all.

You seem to be bothered about still being at home at 24, now you are seeing friends settling down and starting families. Trust me there is plenty of time for all of that kind of responsibility and the restrictions that children can put on your life. Enjoy what you have right now and slowly make improvements in areas of your life that will enable you to be in a stronger position. Being at home and having relatively low outgoings gives you the flexibility to make choices. View it as a positive not a negative.

Person_one

If it makes you feel any better, nearly half of the people getting married now will be getting divorced and possibly moving back in with their parents within a few years!

Life starts when you're born, living at home doesn't mean you can't enjoy life, work hard, do things you care about, make a difference, anything really. Don't convince yourself that you're wasting time, or you really will!

What line of work are you in? When you've always lived in London its easy to get a bit insular and assume the rest of the country is like something from the League of Gentlemen, its really not, there are jobs and cities and opportunities elsewhere.

skullncrossbones

Marisco and Person_one thank you. Guess I needed someone to put it into perspective.

I work as a childcare worker, in a nursery. Nowhere apart from London pays the higher end salary. I was born and bred in London, and as much as I love this city it has it's pros and cons, housing prices being a big con right about now. Haha I've travelled around England quite a bit and definetly do not think it's anything like the League of Gentlemen. I don't want to move to another city, just another house

BitterAndTwisted

Well, if you've got decent experience as a child-care worker you could consider looking for work as live-in nanny. They make an absolute mint with absolutely no outgoings whatsoever. I know because I did it for a couple of years for a family in Hamsptead (although I lived out) and I had more savings set aside than I knew what to do with.

To be honest, despite your less than satisfactory living arrangements, your life sounds ruddy great. I envy you. And I suspect rather more of your friends than you think do, too.

skullncrossbones

BitterAndTwisted - I've thought about nannying but it's not right for me right now. I enjoying being around other adults and having others there to back me up. Is the money worth the hassle that could come with some families, I've heard horror stories! I'll look into it again though. Would like to get some managerial experience under my belt first though incase I wanted to go back to nursery work, and my company are supportive of the degree I'm about to study.

Ahhh, grass is always greener eh!! I'm sure your lifes brill we just have to have an outsider tell us sometime.