Do the young of today feel optimism for their future?
- Thread starter Hades
- Start date
I was probably more ambitious about what the future would hold when I left Uni 5 years ago. Now though not so much. My last job I had pretty much sucked any optimism left out of me and just seem to be living each day as it comes at the moment.
Soldato
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- 11,114
Stop watching the news and reading papers! Seriously, pessismism is their trade. You won't miss anything and you will realise that the world still turns and the UK is not a bad place to live (unless you're in a really bad council estate etc).
Optimistic!
We have it no where near as bad as some people in the world.
The recession/economy is a minor blip in the bigger scheme of things, it's not the end of the world (yet
). Opportunities are always going to be there, they just might take a while to find.
Sure there are days where pessimism sets in, that's perfectly normal, but if you believe everything you read in the newspapers you will end up going mad. People get paid to make you feel like ****.
Don't be afraid to make changes about things you are not happy about. Even if you cannot change things straight away you can pretty much always get the ball rolling without drastic changes. Fancy a new job but can't afford to change right now? Start reading books about the job/area you want to change to!
We have it no where near as bad as some people in the world.
The recession/economy is a minor blip in the bigger scheme of things, it's not the end of the world (yet
). Opportunities are always going to be there, they just might take a while to find.Sure there are days where pessimism sets in, that's perfectly normal, but if you believe everything you read in the newspapers you will end up going mad. People get paid to make you feel like ****.
Don't be afraid to make changes about things you are not happy about. Even if you cannot change things straight away you can pretty much always get the ball rolling without drastic changes. Fancy a new job but can't afford to change right now? Start reading books about the job/area you want to change to!
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I think your last line should be, "debt can be a depressing thing" and you'd be 100% correct. If you're struggling to pay it off, have you thought about going to see a financial adviser? Personally I wouldn't be saving if I had a lot of debt, all money would be going towards paying it off.
The government don't build the majority of the houses. Even when land is in short supply, we will just have to build up towards the sky. House prices will sort themselves out naturally, it's in nobody's interests if people cannot afford to buy.
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Caporegime
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I'm only a couple of years younger than you, OP, but I still believe I have the optimism I had when I was young, hip and current (do kids even say 'hip' anymore?)
Whilst some of the rather brash edges of my younger self's optimism have certainly been smoothed over, I still have that general feeling of things being pretty good. Amazing wife, great career, beautiful daughter, nice house, money in the bank, living somewhere amazing ... these are all things to be happy about.
Would I think the same if I were 20 years younger? You know what? Probably not. I think the world's a different place now than it was when I was at Uni and the world was there to be taken. It's interesting to see the split in those who actually are younger and their take on it.
Associate
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Hmm well I'm 21 and about to qualify as a primary school teacher, as is my partner. We plan to set up home together and begin our careers and my immediate family are in mostly good health. I would like to believe I am quite optimistic 
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Man of Honour
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How young is young? I'm 27 and relatively optimistic about things, at the moment I've got a reasonable job that's training me towards another qualification and skill that I can transfer (around the World to an extent). So perhaps it's not what I'd have dreamed of but then again I didn't know what I wanted to do when I was 16 and I'm still not sure I do - I'll just try and enjoy what I am doing until such point as it becomes clear it's not what I want to do then pick up something else.
Would my opinion be different if I was 10 years younger? Possibly but I don't think so, life isn't all fun but it does give you opportunities even if they're pretty well disguised at the time.
Would my opinion be different if I was 10 years younger? Possibly but I don't think so, life isn't all fun but it does give you opportunities even if they're pretty well disguised at the time.
I agree that Debt is a major factor in producing an unwelcome feeling toward life, however this country and its current situation does contribute to my feeling of distain and unhappiness.
We live in an age where the benefit scrounger if king. He/she can have as many children as they like, live the life that they want (Yes all these idiots want it to smoke, watch TV and drink and have no aspirations to better themselves) and of course never have to work. I on the other hand aspire to better myself, work full time, pay my debts and dues and contribute to society. All my wife and I want is a child. We won't have a child because we are responsible adults that know that having a child is not just a ticket to a free house. I could go on about why the benefit system creates an unfair system of living, but I won't.
When was the last time you tried to apply for a job? I have applied for about 50 jobs in the past 2 years. Do you know how many interviews I have gotten? 0. Do you know why? Becasue the jobs that I am going for are going to over qualified people who are out of work trying to get back on the ladder and will take anything, even a slightly lower paid job below their level of development. Where does that leave me? It leaves me unable to find another job that suites my current skill set, meaning that if I want to get a new job I have to take a pay cut and work back up to this level within another company. How is that meant to generate a happy feeling toward this country?
How about touching upon the housing market eh?? When I look at properties to buy I feel sick to my stomach. How can one justify spending £120,000 on a pile of bricks in the middle of a hell hole in Cardiff, where you are more than likely going to get robbed or have your car nicked as you sleep. How can we as a couple save up £35,000 for a 30% deposit within a reasonable amount of time whilst earning an average salary? I will tell you how, by moving in with her parents for 5 years. What a way to start married life!
There are many reasons why this country is a depressing place to live, not just because of debt. I doubt everyone feels the way I do but at present I find it very hard to find any real reason to want to live in this dump. I wish emigration were an option for me, but alas, knowing my luck I doubt I would meet the entry requirements!
Well, to put it simply, the only thing we can do about benefit scroungers is to ignore them. No point in stressing about them really as that will achieve nothing, but I do see your point and totally agree with you.
Have you thought about trying to train/learn something that will enable you to switch jobs without taking a pay cut?
Personally I would not have spent so much on a wedding/car if I was after a house, but then I guess that comes down to the individual. You could always rent? I know that isn't ideal but if you don't want to live with the in-laws then it's a possibility.
I wasn't trying to paint a pretty picture of the world/country, just that there are options to try to make things better but even if those options are limited for now, I'm optimistic that there will be more options in the future (how long that is, I have no idea).
Have you thought about trying to train/learn something that will enable you to switch jobs without taking a pay cut?
Personally I would not have spent so much on a wedding/car if I was after a house, but then I guess that comes down to the individual. You could always rent? I know that isn't ideal but if you don't want to live with the in-laws then it's a possibility.
I wasn't trying to paint a pretty picture of the world/country, just that there are options to try to make things better but even if those options are limited for now, I'm optimistic that there will be more options in the future (how long that is, I have no idea).
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You say that like there's nothing you can do about it. Why are you earning an average salary? Why wouldn't you meet the entry requirements?
"The harder I work, the luckier I get"
Well, to put it simply, the only thing we can do about benefit scroungers is to ignore them. No point in stressing about them really as that will achieve nothing, but I do see your point and totally agree with you.
Have you thought about trying to train/learn something that will enable you to switch jobs without taking a pay cut?
Personally I would not have spent so much on a wedding if I was after a house, but then I guess that comes down to the individual. You could always rent? I know that isn't ideal but if you don't want to live with the in-laws then it's a possibility.
I wasn't trying to paint a pretty picture of the world/country, just that there are options to try to make things better but even if those options are limited for now, I'm optimistic that there will be more options in the future (how long that is, I have no idea).
I am currently looking at getting a degree on the OU which should open up some doors for me in the future, however this won't be for 4 1/2 years.
Renting is certainly an option, however if we are struggling to save and pay debts now, there is no chance that we can do it if we move into rented accommodation. Even if we pay off our debts and move out, the cost of living means our ability to save would be severely limited. To save the £35,000 for instance with no debts but living in rented it would take us 5 years! This being said, If I decide to take on a degree the cost of this would add on an extra year.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing, we have no one else to blame for our debts which is why i would never dream of missing payments etc... I took on the debt so I will pay it. This does not make the reality of my situation any more palatable though.
I do sound like a bundle of happiness this sunny Sunday morn don't I
Well the last job that I applied for was the one that finally got me thinking about getting a degree. The specific requirement I fell short on was having an education at a higher level. No specific subject, just a higher education. This frustrated me as everything else on my application was sort after. Hence why I looking at the OU at the moment.
No, you're totally right. Doesn't sound like a great position to be in, but all is not lost, at least you have a wife and good health.
Sounds like what you need to do is pay off your debt asap. You say you are saving too? Compare the amount of interest you are getting from your savings to the amount you are paying on your loan if you have not already done so, you might be in for a surprise.
And there it is, a way out of the rut. Do it.
In the UK there are so many opportunities for you to better yourself if you're willing to go out and grab them. You don't have to be stuck in a £20k/year 9-5 for the rest of your days. You don't have to struggle to pay the mortgage.
No, you're totally right. Doesn't sound like a great position to be in, but all is not lost, at least you have a wife and good health.
Sounds like what you need to do is pay off your debt asap. You say you are saving too? Compare the amount of interest you are getting from your savings to the amount you are paying on your loan if you have not already done so, you might be in for a surprise.
Thanks for the tip
I guess so. Heres hoping things start to work out!