What was your life like at 23?

[Deleted User]

married at 22, 1970, first house mortgage at 23, new baby. No carpets, second hand furniture. Degree tucked away. Now still happily married to the same person, now have 3 grown up children and grandchildren

Blissfully unaware of what was ahead, recessions, 3 day week, life was hard but I had energy and was a good mum and a good wife, making almost everything. I got back into a career later and was grateful to have learnt so much as a child. I had good coping mechanisms, even at 23

thorsoak

My sister and I were discussing "what we did when we were 20" last night. Now I'm 71, she's 69 - and she made quite a relevant point - when we left school and went to work, we were treated as adults - not "teenagers" - we were (supposedly) "responsible young women!

Maybe that's why so many of us older posters had started mortgages/families etc!

tea_lover

166million wrote: »

Reading about all these people who were and are settled down, owning property, married with kids makes me feel a bit ridiculous.

Don't! I was divorced at 23, as I thought I was oh so grown up when I got married at 22 lol.

There's no set path that suits everyone equally

aileth

I'm surprised there's so many married at 23 to be honest! I got married at 22 and got told by each and every single person I met that I was too young. I thought we were 'wild' for doing so going on what people were telling us!

lincroft1710

My life at 23?

Too long ago to remember!

PurplePow

Living with my boyfriend at his parents whilst we were still saving for a deposit (but I needed to get a permanent job before we could consider moving!).
Went abroad for the second time in my life (Prague)
Went from a fixed term job, to another fixed term job, before finally getting my first ever permanent job since finishing University (after a lot of struggles getting to that point!).
Then just before 24, bought our flat and moved in right before my birthday!

Fast forward to today at 28. I am now married to said boyfriend, we still live in our flat with a cat, but are about to put our flat up for sale to buy a house (if only the boiler would stop breaking!) and probably lose a few thousand on selling as the house market here in the north east is awful.
I discovered a love for travelling and have since been to 8 more countries with another one booked and more plans to follow!
Deciding I don’t want to consider kids until I’m in my 30’s as I’m enjoying life right now.
I am now on my 4th job since that first permanent job, and earning just over £10k more.

GoldenShadow

Thanks for all the replies everyone. Enjoyed reading them with my hot chocolate

I am a very nosey person, but it's still nice to hear how 'human' people on here are. I've had quite a lot of life experience for my age and feel quite boring because i think it encouraged me to grow up faster. Not one for going out drinking or on long sunshine holidays when I could stay home with my dogs type of thing.

At work, lots of people ask for my 'background' and I don't think that helps in terms of my feeling that I haven't accomplished a lot. Most people I work with are a good 5 years (even thirty or forty) older than me, so have a lot more life to talk about too.

I'm glad most of you seem to be happy in life now, despite what it was like when you were 23! Thank you, again. I've got really into 'reflecting' in the last year, I find it quite helpful when I'm a bit stressed. I've found this thread really motivational too, a few do's and don't's to add to my list :rotfl:

roobee13

23 was only 8 years ago but feels like a lifetime!!

I had just bought a house with my now ex, I was two years into working for a company I stayed with for another 7 years and I bought my beloved dog in October of that year. At the time I felt I knew it all!

I try not to regret things in life but it's hard not to look back and sometimes wish you'd done things differently.

Fast forward 8 years... No house ownership but happy renting with my lovely boyfriend I was made redundant after 9 years and am a year into a new job and career that I love. My gorgeous dog is nearly 8 and still mad as a box of frogs. He was joined by a little rescue dog 5 years ago.

I too have enjoyed reading peoples different experiences, it would be very dull if we all did the same thing!

Kaz2904

At 23 I was planning my wedding (6 weeks after my birthday) and found out I was pregnant. We were buying our first flat and I was in the second year at uni. I had my DD at the beginning of my 3rd year of uni. It was a really busy year!
Now, I'm almost 37. Still married to DH, we have 2 kids, a cat and a dog. Paid off our mortgage on our forever home 2 years ago. It's not massive or spectacular but our neighbours are fantastic and I love the area. Am now applying for new jobs to change direction in my career and get off nights. Tired but happy

minerva_windsong

aileth wrote: »

I'm surprised there's so many married at 23 to be honest! I got married at 22 and got told by each and every single person I met that I was too young. I thought we were 'wild' for doing so going on what people were telling us!

I think that's a generational thing though. There are quite a few people in this thread who are in their 60s and 70s, an age when getting married and having children in your early 20s was often the 'done' thing. Whereas now that would likely be seen as really young as a lot of people wait until their late 20s or early 30s.