Discussion
austinsmirk said:
I’ve just turned 50. I honestly cannot believe the last 20 years went so fast.
Borrow nothing ever, except a mortgage.
Get pension sorted.
Get fit and healthy. You don’t want to be feeling it at 50 !
Get rid of toxic friends/ relationships.
Tattoos are rubbish and what’s on trend now looks ridiculous 5 yrs later.
Get a few isas and endowments sorted. A few quid in a month, forgotten about for 10/15 years really pays off. I was very lucky in respect of the latter: at 18 years work colleagues got me to start one up: bang at 33 I dropped on a pile of unspent cash. Bloody handy.
Fat girls never get thin. If your gf/ wife isn’t bang on now, she’ll never get better. Don’t live in hope.
Wait until you see how fast the next 10 years go.Borrow nothing ever, except a mortgage.
Get pension sorted.
Get fit and healthy. You don’t want to be feeling it at 50 !
Get rid of toxic friends/ relationships.
Tattoos are rubbish and what’s on trend now looks ridiculous 5 yrs later.
Get a few isas and endowments sorted. A few quid in a month, forgotten about for 10/15 years really pays off. I was very lucky in respect of the latter: at 18 years work colleagues got me to start one up: bang at 33 I dropped on a pile of unspent cash. Bloody handy.
Fat girls never get thin. If your gf/ wife isn’t bang on now, she’ll never get better. Don’t live in hope.
It's only a couple of years since I had my. Massive 50th birthday party, and I'm now 60
This is timely. I turned 29 last month and I'd say this has hallmarks of setting me up nicely going to my 30s, although I have worries. I'm still single, whereas many acquaintances, school friends and friends are married, have kids, own homes etc. It does get pretty pathetic being invited to weddings and not bringing a +1. But thats the joys of dating with a disability for you 
I'm still living at home with my parents and will be likely unable to leave for a good few years yet.
But, my 20s allowed me to get a grip on my horrendous mental health, work out who I am, build up some savings (and dabble in investments) before having enough to quit my miserable job to become a mature student. I'm hoping to become a post 16 History Teacher once I get my English and History degree. But I'll be mid 30s by then. I've revived a local open mic night (poetry, spoken word etc), thrown myself back into reading and writing. They were a big comfort for me in the lockdowns. I've also reconnected with a woman who I'd describe as 'the one who got away' so hopefully I'm finally breaking my hoodoo.
But being wheelchair bound, I can't agree more with getting fit. I've met quite a few 40+ year old wheelchair users who are morbidly obese because their disability stops them from running, yoga etc and can be greatly limited in accessing a gym etc. My blood ran cold when a chap I knew from the football said he was as skinny as me in his 20s, but is now much bigger in his late 50s. So it isn't always the case of fatty needing a wheelchair because their fat...
I joined a gym at 24, after I started to get a bit chunky. (I'm certain Prozac encouraged weight gain and increased my appetite.) Although I look respectable, I'm far from looking like a regular gym goer as my appetite is still the same, I can't use some machines and I refuse to wear muscle fit clothes. Although after a long injury layoff this year and Covid, I'm hoping to really invest more time into building core strength while sitting down and building upper back muscle to cure my naff posture.
Also, to bring this back to PH my Reader's Cars Thread is another positive.
All things considered I'm probably on the right track. A former work colleague described her 20s as being a practice decade and her 30s the decade where you do what makes you happy.
Michael
I'm still living at home with my parents and will be likely unable to leave for a good few years yet. But, my 20s allowed me to get a grip on my horrendous mental health, work out who I am, build up some savings (and dabble in investments) before having enough to quit my miserable job to become a mature student. I'm hoping to become a post 16 History Teacher once I get my English and History degree. But I'll be mid 30s by then. I've revived a local open mic night (poetry, spoken word etc), thrown myself back into reading and writing. They were a big comfort for me in the lockdowns. I've also reconnected with a woman who I'd describe as 'the one who got away' so hopefully I'm finally breaking my hoodoo.
But being wheelchair bound, I can't agree more with getting fit. I've met quite a few 40+ year old wheelchair users who are morbidly obese because their disability stops them from running, yoga etc and can be greatly limited in accessing a gym etc. My blood ran cold when a chap I knew from the football said he was as skinny as me in his 20s, but is now much bigger in his late 50s. So it isn't always the case of fatty needing a wheelchair because their fat...
I joined a gym at 24, after I started to get a bit chunky. (I'm certain Prozac encouraged weight gain and increased my appetite.) Although I look respectable, I'm far from looking like a regular gym goer as my appetite is still the same, I can't use some machines and I refuse to wear muscle fit clothes. Although after a long injury layoff this year and Covid, I'm hoping to really invest more time into building core strength while sitting down and building upper back muscle to cure my naff posture.
Also, to bring this back to PH my Reader's Cars Thread is another positive.
All things considered I'm probably on the right track. A former work colleague described her 20s as being a practice decade and her 30s the decade where you do what makes you happy.Michael
Got4wheels said:
This is timely
….
But, my 20s allowed me to get a grip on my horrendous mental health, work out who I am, build up some savings (and dabble in investments) before having enough to quit my miserable job to become a mature student. I'm hoping to become a post 16 History Teacher once I get my English and History degree. But I'll be mid 30s by then. I've revived a local open mic night (poetry, spoken word etc), thrown myself back into reading and writing. They were a big comfort for me in the lockdowns. I've also reconnected with a woman who I'd describe as 'the one who got away' so hopefully I'm finally breaking my hoodoo.
….
to bring this back to PH my Reader's Cars Thread is another positive. All things considered I'm probably on the right track. A former work colleague described her 20s as being a practice decade and her 30s the decade where you do what makes you happy.
Michael
Great post. Wishing you every success becoming a teacher. They’ve more opportunity to change the course of someone’s life than almost anyone else. The world needs good ones!….
But, my 20s allowed me to get a grip on my horrendous mental health, work out who I am, build up some savings (and dabble in investments) before having enough to quit my miserable job to become a mature student. I'm hoping to become a post 16 History Teacher once I get my English and History degree. But I'll be mid 30s by then. I've revived a local open mic night (poetry, spoken word etc), thrown myself back into reading and writing. They were a big comfort for me in the lockdowns. I've also reconnected with a woman who I'd describe as 'the one who got away' so hopefully I'm finally breaking my hoodoo.
….
to bring this back to PH my Reader's Cars Thread is another positive.
All things considered I'm probably on the right track. A former work colleague described her 20s as being a practice decade and her 30s the decade where you do what makes you happy.Michael
Got4wheels said:
This is timely. I turned 29 last month and I'd say this has hallmarks of setting me up nicely going to my 30s, although I have worries. I'm still single, whereas many acquaintances, school friends and friends are married, have kids, own homes etc. It does get pretty pathetic being invited to weddings and not bringing a +1. But thats the joys of dating with a disability for you I'm still living at home with my parents and will be likely unable to leave for a good few years yet.
But, my 20s allowed me to get a grip on my horrendous mental health, work out who I am, build up some savings (and dabble in investments) before having enough to quit my miserable job to become a mature student. I'm hoping to become a post 16 History Teacher once I get my English and History degree. But I'll be mid 30s by then. I've revived a local open mic night (poetry, spoken word etc), thrown myself back into reading and writing. They were a big comfort for me in the lockdowns. I've also reconnected with a woman who I'd describe as 'the one who got away' so hopefully I'm finally breaking my hoodoo.
But being wheelchair bound, I can't agree more with getting fit. I've met quite a few 40+ year old wheelchair users who are morbidly obese because their disability stops them from running, yoga etc and can be greatly limited in accessing a gym etc. My blood ran cold when a chap I knew from the football said he was as skinny as me in his 20s, but is now much bigger in his late 50s. So it isn't always the case of fatty needing a wheelchair because their fat...
I joined a gym at 24, after I started to get a bit chunky. (I'm certain Prozac encouraged weight gain and increased my appetite.) Although I look respectable, I'm far from looking like a regular gym goer as my appetite is still the same, I can't use some machines and I refuse to wear muscle fit clothes. Although after a long injury layoff this year and Covid, I'm hoping to really invest more time into building core strength while sitting down and building upper back muscle to cure my naff posture.
Also, to bring this back to PH my Reader's Cars Thread is another positive. All things considered I'm probably on the right track. A former work colleague described her 20s as being a practice decade and her 30s the decade where you do what makes you happy.
Michael
This is timely for me as well as I turned 30 6 months-ish ago. I very much fall into the category you describe with two kids and a wife. Though I am slightly envious of those similar in age to me who are able to travel and be reckless/frivolous with their money! I'm still living at home with my parents and will be likely unable to leave for a good few years yet. But, my 20s allowed me to get a grip on my horrendous mental health, work out who I am, build up some savings (and dabble in investments) before having enough to quit my miserable job to become a mature student. I'm hoping to become a post 16 History Teacher once I get my English and History degree. But I'll be mid 30s by then. I've revived a local open mic night (poetry, spoken word etc), thrown myself back into reading and writing. They were a big comfort for me in the lockdowns. I've also reconnected with a woman who I'd describe as 'the one who got away' so hopefully I'm finally breaking my hoodoo.
But being wheelchair bound, I can't agree more with getting fit. I've met quite a few 40+ year old wheelchair users who are morbidly obese because their disability stops them from running, yoga etc and can be greatly limited in accessing a gym etc. My blood ran cold when a chap I knew from the football said he was as skinny as me in his 20s, but is now much bigger in his late 50s. So it isn't always the case of fatty needing a wheelchair because their fat...
I joined a gym at 24, after I started to get a bit chunky. (I'm certain Prozac encouraged weight gain and increased my appetite.) Although I look respectable, I'm far from looking like a regular gym goer as my appetite is still the same, I can't use some machines and I refuse to wear muscle fit clothes. Although after a long injury layoff this year and Covid, I'm hoping to really invest more time into building core strength while sitting down and building upper back muscle to cure my naff posture.
Also, to bring this back to PH my Reader's Cars Thread is another positive.
All things considered I'm probably on the right track. A former work colleague described her 20s as being a practice decade and her 30s the decade where you do what makes you happy.Michael
On a completely side note and the reason I am posting (I normally just read):
Got4wheels - I am a senior school teacher but was previously a sixth form teacher. I came into the profession through a unusual route that is really well suited to sixth form teaching. If you want to know more or want to ask any teaching questions feel free to message me.
Focus on the stuff that will enrich your life whether that’s decent relationships, travel, a job you enjoy and most importantly to cut out stuff that’s detrimental to you.
You don’t need ‘stuff’ to make you happy. Looking back in twenty years time it will be remembering quality experiences that’ll bring a smile to your face not the fact you had a iPhone 12 or whatever.
You don’t have to chase the dollar to make you happy, try and find a job that genuinely interests you and gives you some fulfilment rather than working 80 hours a week for 100 bags but hating every second. When I was approaching 30 I made the decision that I had to change jobs before hitting that age as it was making me miserable and my bosses were w
kers. I took a step into a completely unrelated field at an entry level position taking a pay cut in the process (which scared me witless as I had a mortgage and family to support) but on day one I knew I had made the right decision and 19 years later I’m still with the same firm but now I drive trains which I still enjoy.
Sort out your pension!! Do it early and it will generally take care of itself.
Travel. Travel. Travel. Even if it just to a campsite.
Put yourself and your family first. Always.
You don’t need ‘stuff’ to make you happy. Looking back in twenty years time it will be remembering quality experiences that’ll bring a smile to your face not the fact you had a iPhone 12 or whatever.
You don’t have to chase the dollar to make you happy, try and find a job that genuinely interests you and gives you some fulfilment rather than working 80 hours a week for 100 bags but hating every second. When I was approaching 30 I made the decision that I had to change jobs before hitting that age as it was making me miserable and my bosses were w
kers. I took a step into a completely unrelated field at an entry level position taking a pay cut in the process (which scared me witless as I had a mortgage and family to support) but on day one I knew I had made the right decision and 19 years later I’m still with the same firm but now I drive trains which I still enjoy.Sort out your pension!! Do it early and it will generally take care of itself.
Travel. Travel. Travel. Even if it just to a campsite.
Put yourself and your family first. Always.
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