Throughout my twenties I spent more time in clubs than I care to admit. My hometown boasted clubs of the beach bar variety, clubs of the revolving floor variety and in most instances clubs of the sticky floor variety, and I can tell you now without any equivocation that I hated every single one of them.
The problem was that unless you conformed to the predrink-pub-club routine you were pretty much stuck, destined to a life as a recluse, and so it was that I spent the best part of my twenty-somethings getting B52s’ Love Shack pumped into my ears on a cramped dance floor with a Smirnoff Ice in my hand.
But thankfully this generation haven’t inherited our misfortune. According to a new Nationwide study dubbed ‘Generation Sensible’ 65 per cent of young adults would rather party at a friend’s house than spend unnecessary money at the pub or club.
Despite been saddled with debts in the region of £20,000 following their stint at University, most popular twenty-somethings have 15 good friends who they choose to see in bars and cafes rather than waste money on expensive nights out and lavish holidays.
Andrew Baddeley-Chappell, Nationwide’s Head of Policy for Mortgages and Savings said: “Our research has found a generation of twenty somethings under pressure and in transition. The good news is that as a demographic they seem to be planning their futures, whether that be saving for a deposit for their first home or a holiday. In some ways this is a far cry from the free-spirited youth of the 60s and 70s.”
The study shows that when it comes to attempting to save, 32 per cent are desperately trying to get a deposit together for a mortgage, while 30 per cent are saving up for a holiday.
A further 24 per cent of twenty-somethings are saving for a rainy day, and one in 10 are gathering cash together to pay for their wedding. And although those in their twenties earn just under £20,000 a year – working 31 hours a week – at the end of every month they have just £210.07 to spend on enjoying themselves.
Getting on the housing ladder is a concern for 36 per cent of those in their twenties, while landing a job worries 27 per cent.
Here’s what the average 20-something looks like today:
