Reason #6 Why I’m Glad to be Leaving my Twenties: Being Poh!

Twenties were a struggle for soooo many reasons, but with all of the other reasons that make your twenties a struggle – having no money certainly doesn’t make it any easier, and is the least fun. We have four years where we don’t work much and don’t get paid much (if not more than 4 years with internships, masters programs, etc). And then once we do get a job, we normally make just enough to barely scrape by on fast food, Forever 21, happy hour specials and crappy apartments with mean slumlords.

Plus, us in our twenties don’t yet have enough credit for a nice fall back just in case we need it. And once we do get that credit card, we max it out and end up having to pay ridiculous APRs and even more ridiculous late fees. Or maybe that was just me?

I used to think and pretend that being poor was cool, and the way to do things. I think that movies like Reality Bites set me up for that. But it’s NOT cool and it’s NOT fun (this girl knows that or this girl who makes fun of a writer who says she feels like she’s missing out because she picked a real adult job right out of college & doesn’t get to be poor with her other twenty year old friends). But it was a journey I had to take to know and appreciate what life would be like on the other side.

Ah yes, I am DEFINITELY looking forward to my thirties where I receive health benefits, 401k, make enough to live in a nice apartment downtown with all the amenities I’ve ever wanted, and can buy new clothes that don’t fall apart two weeks after I buy them. And if those clothes DO happen to fall apart, the store where I bought the crappy item will be one with a nice return policy that allows you to return it and get CASH back. None of this store credit bullshit.

In my thirties, rather than drool in jealousy and hunger as I walk by the designer clad men and women sitting on the patio of that restaurant I’ve always wanted to go to but could never afford, I can now BE one of those people sipping my mojito and laughing hysterically at the photos of my friend’s latest trip to Barbados. In my thirties, I plan on living the high life in a classier way than I could ever have done it in my twenties.

And with Jock and I having a double income for the first time in our four year relationship, I think it can finally happen.

Ah, it’s the little things.

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This is the biggest memory for me as someone in their twenties. It didn’t help that I was a single mother for much of it either but my twenties were dominated by struggling for money, all while working two jobs and trying to go to school. I’m not ashamed to tell you that after years of living on credit cards to survive I had to file bankruptcy. It was very scary and awful and shameful but it also gave me a new start that was very much needed. Before that I had a couple months when I couldn’t even afford groceries. The main headache for me was keeping a car that would run. In three years time I went thru three cars, one after another breaking down, and not a minor repair but something catastrophic like the transmission going! To this day I detest having a car payment!

The year I met Rich I turned 30 and everything changed. Suddenly there were two incomes and the security I needed followed by the confidence to get a better job and it’s been all uphill since then really. Now I live my dream of being able to travel where I want pretty much when I want. Your 30′s will definitely be better and then by the time you’re in your 40′s it should be awesome.

Meagan Adele Lopez' Blog

Just a gal musing about life, travel and love

Reason #6 Why I’m Glad to be Leaving my Twenties: Being Poh!