How has your decade been?
Discussion
As the 2010s come to an end, it seems like there are articles/posts everywhere reflecting on the decade that’s almost complete. Thought it might be interesting for PHers to do the same, so here’s mine:
In 2010 I was 23, living in Nottingham, working at a bank, single and driving a Clio 182.
Today I'm 33, living in Leeds, been teaching for 6 years, married for 5 and drive a sheddy old Micra.
I’ve had 4 jobs, 6 homes, and 9 cars since 2010.
I’ve lived in Nottingham, MK, Leeds and spent 2 years living in South Korea.
Highlights of the decade?
- Meeting my now wife whilst living in South Korea back in 2010. We’ve been together nearly a decade.
- Getting a career. Moved to South Korea to teach English in 2010, returned to the UK in 2013 and been teaching ever since.
- Two years living in Korea, followed by a year off work travelling around Asia, Europe and the USA.
- Did a 5-week road-trip around Norway and Sweden in 2015, which was brilliant.
So, how has your decade been and what were the best bits of the 2010s for you? (I'm aware this is a few weeks early before anyone says it.
)
In 2010 I was 23, living in Nottingham, working at a bank, single and driving a Clio 182.
Today I'm 33, living in Leeds, been teaching for 6 years, married for 5 and drive a sheddy old Micra.
I’ve had 4 jobs, 6 homes, and 9 cars since 2010.
I’ve lived in Nottingham, MK, Leeds and spent 2 years living in South Korea.
Highlights of the decade?
- Meeting my now wife whilst living in South Korea back in 2010. We’ve been together nearly a decade.
- Getting a career. Moved to South Korea to teach English in 2010, returned to the UK in 2013 and been teaching ever since.
- Two years living in Korea, followed by a year off work travelling around Asia, Europe and the USA.
- Did a 5-week road-trip around Norway and Sweden in 2015, which was brilliant.
So, how has your decade been and what were the best bits of the 2010s for you? (I'm aware this is a few weeks early before anyone says it.
)In 2010 I was 25 living in Essex, had been working for an insurance company in London for 5 years at that point but career progression had stalled, was renting with a mate and running out of money a week before pay day every month.
Fast forward to Jan 2011 and I had just booked a three week solo trip around Thailand for 3 weeks, in April a colleague from my company's head office in Australia asked me if I fancied taking on a role in Sydney. Being single and 25 I thought sod it and signed a contract with a 4 year visa.
After 3 promotions I am still in Australia working for the same company (15 years), have permanent residence and citizenship on the way.
Met an aussie girl three months in (2011) and we just got engaged in Dubai last month.
I arrived in Aus having never taken a driving lesson (I know weird to not drive by 25 and be on this site-I loved cars but couldn't afford) So took my test in Aus after a few lessons took and passed my test. Went and bought a brand new golf mk7 which I still have now.
If someone had said to me in 2010 that I would be where I am now in terms of job/location I would have told them to lay off the crack.
I went from having Southend as my local beach to now having this 3 mins walk from home.
Fast forward to Jan 2011 and I had just booked a three week solo trip around Thailand for 3 weeks, in April a colleague from my company's head office in Australia asked me if I fancied taking on a role in Sydney. Being single and 25 I thought sod it and signed a contract with a 4 year visa.
After 3 promotions I am still in Australia working for the same company (15 years), have permanent residence and citizenship on the way.
Met an aussie girl three months in (2011) and we just got engaged in Dubai last month.
I arrived in Aus having never taken a driving lesson (I know weird to not drive by 25 and be on this site-I loved cars but couldn't afford) So took my test in Aus after a few lessons took and passed my test. Went and bought a brand new golf mk7 which I still have now.
If someone had said to me in 2010 that I would be where I am now in terms of job/location I would have told them to lay off the crack.
I went from having Southend as my local beach to now having this 3 mins walk from home.
Edited by Munka01 on Tuesday 26th November 06:51
Edited by Munka01 on Tuesday 26th November 07:36
Working for the NHS and about to be made redundant. Luckily the NHS redundancy package meant I got 16 months wages in one hit. Ridden Harley across USA, been to Las Vegas lots of times, several cars, bikes, adventures, holidays and general fun. And now working for the NHS once again.
Let's see, in no particular order - married, added a son, a daughter, four cats, one dog, three hens. Moved house once, changed employer once. Sailed the Pacific twice, spent a year in NZ, three in Italy. Completed my PPL, started building an aeroplane, stopped building an aeroplane (hopefully temporarily). Bought eleven cars, sold nine. Turned 40.
So in summary, probably the most life-defining decade so far! My first decade as a 'proper' grownup.
So in summary, probably the most life-defining decade so far! My first decade as a 'proper' grownup.
2010, married, no children, living in a tiny terraced house, no garage or parking, working in the haulage industry, owned 14 cars all stored at work in various places, most of them opel mantas but I also had a chevy astro van and a vw golf tdi. Decent social life and we went to carshows and on decent holidays twice a year.
2019 +11months. Still Married, 3 children, living in a massive house with a 8 car garage/workshop, still working in the haulage industry but higher up the ladder, down to 3 mantas, the chevy astro, a 67 camaro, a volvo xc90 for all the family duties and the old faithful vw golf tdi.
No social life, no car shows unless they are really local no holidays since one two years ago which resulted in child 3 nine months after we came back, that holiday was the first one we had had since child 1 arrived in 2011.
Happy though, come a long way in this decade.
2019 +11months. Still Married, 3 children, living in a massive house with a 8 car garage/workshop, still working in the haulage industry but higher up the ladder, down to 3 mantas, the chevy astro, a 67 camaro, a volvo xc90 for all the family duties and the old faithful vw golf tdi.
No social life, no car shows unless they are really local no holidays since one two years ago which resulted in child 3 nine months after we came back, that holiday was the first one we had had since child 1 arrived in 2011.
Happy though, come a long way in this decade.
Finalised my divorce, destroyed my credit rating ... Turned the credit situation around completely over 2yrs then a further 5 for credit score recovery.
Left the NHS substantively to work for a consultancy co. been doing that for 2 companies, the current for over 6yrs now
Added a wife, a daughter, and a dog. Lost 2 dogs too.
Moved twice, built a house.
Tripled my salary in the 10yrs
Lost count of the cars bought and sold and now part of the leasing bandwagon.
Gained immeasurable happiness and contentment
Left the NHS substantively to work for a consultancy co. been doing that for 2 companies, the current for over 6yrs now
Added a wife, a daughter, and a dog. Lost 2 dogs too.
Moved twice, built a house.
Tripled my salary in the 10yrs
Lost count of the cars bought and sold and now part of the leasing bandwagon.
Gained immeasurable happiness and contentment
- lost a dog but gained 3
- lost 3 close members of my family, including my dad
- utterly shafted by my dad's widow
- gained a grandson
- had some great holidays and seen some fantastic parts of the world
- earn more
- wife lost the job that she loved but it was ultimately a godsend as the new one is better hours and twice the pay, plus she loves it
- realise I'm actually getting old (45 in a month)
- diagnosed with asthma (this year)
Got married
Had an awesome child
Got a couple of promotions
Travelled a bit
Had a few cars although other than my 182, I wouldn't say I am happy with what I've had, more of a case of what is available for my budget although we have a family car which we love. I would just love a more interesting station car, Abarth 500 probably.
Sold a lovely house and moved to a nice village and a usefully bigger house so spending money on that (90sq m driveway, completely redid garden including outhouse/bar, log burner and now half way through wife's pottery studio) which has impacted the car situation
Been best man twice for two very special mates. Extremely proud to have done this.
Going forward
Enjoy as much time with my child as time is whizzing by
Same for my parents, in their mid 70s so conscious that the next decade I'll need to help them out more and spend as much time with as possible. They are lovely, wonderful people and a pleasure to be with.
Career wise, I am in the position of loving my role and team plus most of the people I deal with. Challenge being I'm a long term employee so whilst the benefits are good (pension, shares) I am behind the curve wages wise which is frustrating. And I am quite bored now. I need to have a think about this. As a positive I've undertaken an outside volunteer role which may open doors and it's allowed me to utilise my creative side with good success.
Hopefully we'll be in the position to show our child some of the world. I never travelled until my teens and that was only within Europe. I want him to experience other cultures. Mind you we always have fun on holiday wherever we are.
Financially I want to focus on mortgage overpayment and possibly move to a forever home... This depends on my career mind.
Had an awesome child
Got a couple of promotions
Travelled a bit
Had a few cars although other than my 182, I wouldn't say I am happy with what I've had, more of a case of what is available for my budget although we have a family car which we love. I would just love a more interesting station car, Abarth 500 probably.
Sold a lovely house and moved to a nice village and a usefully bigger house so spending money on that (90sq m driveway, completely redid garden including outhouse/bar, log burner and now half way through wife's pottery studio) which has impacted the car situation
Been best man twice for two very special mates. Extremely proud to have done this.
Going forward
Enjoy as much time with my child as time is whizzing by
Same for my parents, in their mid 70s so conscious that the next decade I'll need to help them out more and spend as much time with as possible. They are lovely, wonderful people and a pleasure to be with.
Career wise, I am in the position of loving my role and team plus most of the people I deal with. Challenge being I'm a long term employee so whilst the benefits are good (pension, shares) I am behind the curve wages wise which is frustrating. And I am quite bored now. I need to have a think about this. As a positive I've undertaken an outside volunteer role which may open doors and it's allowed me to utilise my creative side with good success.
Hopefully we'll be in the position to show our child some of the world. I never travelled until my teens and that was only within Europe. I want him to experience other cultures. Mind you we always have fun on holiday wherever we are.
Financially I want to focus on mortgage overpayment and possibly move to a forever home... This depends on my career mind.
I had a job I enjoyed, working with really good bright people on 2 world first products – which never happened due to new management turning up and sinking the ship. Became a contractor, filled the hole in the pension pot, paid off the mortgage early, built a substantial nest egg. I can afford to take holidays now!
Cars along the way, 7 sold/scrapped/written off, 4 bought.
Same house, no decorating has happened in the last decade.
Still single, no-one on the horizon, still no dog too, as life style makes it too difficult.
Recently drifted away from my family due to the incessant self-inflicted dramas.
Old injuries now coming back to haunt me..
Just about to start a proper self-employed business – kick off March 2020-ish.
Realised life is about experiences, having time to enjoy it and being happy, although the line above may negate this!
In terms of 10 year periods in life, -probably the best so far...
Cars along the way, 7 sold/scrapped/written off, 4 bought.
Same house, no decorating has happened in the last decade.
Still single, no-one on the horizon, still no dog too, as life style makes it too difficult.
Recently drifted away from my family due to the incessant self-inflicted dramas.
Old injuries now coming back to haunt me..
Just about to start a proper self-employed business – kick off March 2020-ish.
Realised life is about experiences, having time to enjoy it and being happy, although the line above may negate this!
In terms of 10 year periods in life, -probably the best so far...
Good thread. 2000-2010 was just a growing up decade for me. Leaving school, finding a first job etc. 2010-2020 has been my first decade of really being able to get stuff done.
2010 I had just switched jobs, slight pay-drop and was about 18months into a relationship. Drove a 2004 Seat Ibiza FR which was knackered and I'd never done a single oil change in my life. I was living in a 1bed flat that had about £20k negative equity in it.
Got a kitten, which is now a rather full cat of almost 7kg.
In the time since I steadily progressed in that job, culminating in a year working in the US in 2014 and a heap of responsibility. Came back, got married to the GF I had from 2010.
Had a couple of interim Honda's but then I'd had an opportunity to own/run/track one of my childhood dream cars (2005 STI Impreza) which I started learning a bit on too with the spanners, did oil changes, suspension change and brake/caliper changes on it amongst other stuff.
Took my partner on a couple of 'dream' holidays from either her perspective or mine, but still would say travel has been our weakest area - not explored that much and tend to revisit favourite destinations rather than try something new.
Sold the flat at a loss, took out a loan to pay off its mortgage. Moved into a rented house to spread out for a bit.
Lost an Uncle to Cancer, mercifully our only "close to home" loss this decade but has been very rough on my grandparents, now had to bury both of their children
Sold Impreza and bought a Lotus Elise, my hobby for DIY mechanics really growing with it. Did a quite in depth suspension refurb that I'm rather proud of.
Teamed up with an associate and went self employed, still doing that now and is working very well.
Sold the Elise, saved up and paid off the previous mortgage/loan and bought a new house. Technically could be a forever home, but you never know!
Bought an Exige, hopefully a keeper but as with the house you never know!
Had a baby daughter this year.
2010 I had just switched jobs, slight pay-drop and was about 18months into a relationship. Drove a 2004 Seat Ibiza FR which was knackered and I'd never done a single oil change in my life. I was living in a 1bed flat that had about £20k negative equity in it.
Got a kitten, which is now a rather full cat of almost 7kg.
In the time since I steadily progressed in that job, culminating in a year working in the US in 2014 and a heap of responsibility. Came back, got married to the GF I had from 2010.
Had a couple of interim Honda's but then I'd had an opportunity to own/run/track one of my childhood dream cars (2005 STI Impreza) which I started learning a bit on too with the spanners, did oil changes, suspension change and brake/caliper changes on it amongst other stuff.
Took my partner on a couple of 'dream' holidays from either her perspective or mine, but still would say travel has been our weakest area - not explored that much and tend to revisit favourite destinations rather than try something new.
Sold the flat at a loss, took out a loan to pay off its mortgage. Moved into a rented house to spread out for a bit.
Lost an Uncle to Cancer, mercifully our only "close to home" loss this decade but has been very rough on my grandparents, now had to bury both of their children
Sold Impreza and bought a Lotus Elise, my hobby for DIY mechanics really growing with it. Did a quite in depth suspension refurb that I'm rather proud of.
Teamed up with an associate and went self employed, still doing that now and is working very well.
Sold the Elise, saved up and paid off the previous mortgage/loan and bought a new house. Technically could be a forever home, but you never know!
Bought an Exige, hopefully a keeper but as with the house you never know!
Had a baby daughter this year.
Edited by Fonzey on Tuesday 26th November 08:43
Bought our first house, got married, had two gorgeous childrens. New road bike, new mountain bike, couple of new cars Just got a nice promotion at work to round things off nicely.
Lost a couple of people that were very close to us which hit us hard but overall it's been a good 10 years.
Lost a couple of people that were very close to us which hit us hard but overall it's been a good 10 years.
k right off.... 2010 I was 22 and in a well paid job saving for a house whilst travelling a lot, just prior to 2010 I’d been to Vegas 4 times in 18 months with Australia for 3 weeks squeezed in between.
Was in a relationship that was destined to fail but for the right reasons really I we both wanted different things at the time.
Was overweight and a bit lost going to the pub a lot and seriously unfit.
In the following years I went boxing training, got fit, got abs, and had a few fights had another failed relationship which thankfully led me to my current relationship as I met my now partner at boxing and an a bit of a whirlwind 18 months we’ve had a few awesome holidays, had a baby and just bought a fantastic house together.
So for me the 2010’s was a path leading to now where everything is about spot on.
Still in the same job which really just pays the bills it’s got it’s minuses but it’s helping pay for the above so I can live with that.
Was in a relationship that was destined to fail but for the right reasons really I we both wanted different things at the time.
Was overweight and a bit lost going to the pub a lot and seriously unfit.
In the following years I went boxing training, got fit, got abs, and had a few fights had another failed relationship which thankfully led me to my current relationship as I met my now partner at boxing and an a bit of a whirlwind 18 months we’ve had a few awesome holidays, had a baby and just bought a fantastic house together.
So for me the 2010’s was a path leading to now where everything is about spot on.
Still in the same job which really just pays the bills it’s got it’s minuses but it’s helping pay for the above so I can live with that.
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