When you’re young — 18 or 19 — you have the energy and drive. That’s the time to work as hard as you can. 30 is the perfect age to be, and we list the landmarks to achieve by the end of your third decade.
1: BUY A PROPERTY_
Buying a property remains a great investment.
2: BUILD A BRAND_
No fibbing now- everyone has Goggled themselves. If you’re not the top research result, something has gone wrong.
3: LEAVE HOME:
Rental prices over the past year, is on the high side. Leaving the parental home isn’t easy — but life begins when you fly the nest.
4: LOOK AFTER THE PENNIES_
You won’t earn much interest but the sensible are saving for fantasies such as houses and retirement.
5: CO-HABIT_
Living alone is said to be on a high side. But learning to live in harmony with boyfriends, girlfriends and friends takes practice. Test out potential partners now.
6: OWN A DESIGNER HANDBAG_
Be it Versace or Louis Vuitton handbags, the perfect bag paid for with your own hard-earned cash, equals job satisfaction by the bucketload.
7: GROW A PAIR_
And learn to stand up for yourself. While your early twenties are all about “People pleasing”, horning an ability to fight your own battles is essential. Learn how to say “no “, and, more importantly, how to entertain the notion of being right.
8: ALWAYS WEAR A SUNSCREEN_
Baz Luhrmann was right: with skin cancer now the most common from among twenty something, playing it safe in the sun is essential. And you’ll be thankful for that wrinkle-free skin when you turn 40.
9: BUILD UP YOUR BLACK BOOK_
Information is power, and with it comes opportunity. In London, networking ability will always stand you in good stead.
10: DROP YOUR LAST E_
What seemed fun and “grown up” in your formative years will leave you tired — and possibly fired — in your thirties. Get it out of your system while you can still cope with the hangover.
11: BE A FASHION VICTIM_
What looks terrific when you’re 21 will look tragic when you’re 30. Indulge in flash-in- the-pan fashion trends while you still have the legs to do so.
12: HEAL A BROKEN HEART_
Understand the importance of a fully functioning, sanity- restoring relationship. What you wanted from love in your early twenties — fun and floppy hair — is no longer going to cut the mustard.
13: GET MARRIED_
Jemina Khan was just 21 when she embarked on her “starter marriage” with Imran Khan, Lily Allen had hit 26 and Kate Middleton was 29 when she tied the knot. Start dropping hints now — but make sure you’ve got some cash to make it happen.
14: TAKE IT TO THE EXTREME_
Once you’ve climbed Everest, run a double marathon or done that sky dive you’ll know you can push your body to its limit and still talk about it afterwards.
15: WRITE A BOOK_
Your expertise and ideas might be slim but you will never be as remarkable again. Flaubert, Kafka, Fitzgerald, Updike and Walcott all pushed out classics before 30, so writing a decent time is actually possible too.
16: KNOW WHO YOUR FRIENDS ARE_
Your 783 Facebook friends have already been winnowed to 638. As the job eats away at social time, loyalty and similar interests replace “seamed nice/fit in the smoking area” as the criteria for staying in touch.
17: LEARN TO COOK_
Still can’t bake bread and struggling with be’chamel? Take a cookery course, like Pippa Middleton, because chances are you’ll be entertaining from now on.
18: LEARN A LANGUAGE _
Learning a foreign tongue when you’re young is not only easier, it can also make you cleverer in other ways. Fewer than one in 10 British workers has managed it, though, so good luck.
19: MAKE A MILLION_
… Or at least earn your age. Only the suited denizens of Canary Wharf and a few young Sugar-lings can hit the magic number so young, but hitting 30k by 30 has a nice ring to it
20: FIND YOURSELF _
The gap yah gag is largely funny because 18 is too young to think about anything meaningfully. However, 25 is not, and working out what you believe in should be wrapped up before family life takes over.
21: GET A SECOND LIFE_
Don’t let work become life. Extracurricular activities could also help you unearth your real passion. Start a supper club, join a brand or free-run through London.
22: SLEEP WHEN YOU’RE DEAD_
Everyone knows the best fun starts after midnight. A hangover at work? So what, Alka-Seltzer is your friend…
23: START BUSINESS _
Four in 10 London undergraduates run their own businesses. Take the plunge while you still have nothing to lose
24: HAVE A THREESOME OR A MORESOME_
While legend suggest you may reach your “prime ” in your thirties, you won’t have the time or the energy for such adventurous antics. Indulge in a little sexual experimentation now.
25: DROPOUT_
So what if you still can’t touch your toes? You can’t let that stop you ditching your desk and becoming a yoga teacher. Escape the rat race before it gets you hooked.
