First house, first baby, first job: 25 life milestones and the ages you should achieve them
The eminent members of Generation Y may frequently complain that they're being priced out of the property market/marriage/adulthood – but when should we actually be hitting those crucial milestones? Younger than you think, according to new research…
Loans company Amigo surveyed nearly 1,600 people aged between 16 and 65 about their "wisdom, life experience and regrets" – and came up with a definitive list of when we should achieve what.
To live the ultimate life, your first kiss should have taken place by age 15, the study found, while you should have passed your driving test by 20 – and have moved out of your parents' house by 22.
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The wedding should come at 27 (a decade before the average age of marriage, which is 37), while the first child should come at 28.
The study also found most people start earning the average wage aged 30, rising to £40,000 a year by age 37 – and retirement should come at an optimistically youthful 60, as opposed to the government's preferred age of 65.
If you haven't achieved those milestones, don't panic (yet). The study also suggested a "large percentage" of us put pressure on ourselves to achieve things by certain times – while one in three people "felt there was more pressure on the current generation to reach milestones within specific timeframes". No kidding.
Here's how your life should look
| 15 | First kiss |
| 19 | First full-time job |
| 20 | Pass driving test |
| 21 | First holiday with friends |
| 22 | Move out/rent with friends |
| 22 | Buy first car |
| 23 | First holiday with a partner |
| 23 | Be a bridesmaid/best man |
| 24 | Rent on your own |
| 25 | Get engaged |
| 25 | Rent with partner |
| 27 | Get married |
| 27 | Buy first flat |
| 28 | Have first child |
| 29 | First house |
| 30 | Start earning average wage |
| 31 | Second child |
| 32 | Buy brand new car |
| 34 | Become a manager at work |
| 35 | Think about starting/start a business |
| 36 | Move to second house |
| 36 | Start enjoying two holidays a year |
| 37 | Start earning £40,000 |
| 39 | Look at buying/buy property to let |
| 60 | Retire |
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