#being20

Tootlelooo to 2018! Let’s hope 2019 brings true partnership, global union, peace ✌️ of mind and plenty of cold hard cash 💰 to get anything our hearts ♥️ desire!

As our twenties roll around we find ourselves creating new routines. We look for a more stable job with consistent hours. We look for ways to educate and qualify ourselves. We try to catch up with friends and create healthy habits in life. However, sometimes it feels like we’re on autopilot.

There was a time where we went out drinking, fishing, mountain climbing. Spent days at the beach or in the city or in the park. Those days existed, so what happened?

A friend of mine enlightened me with some perspective on “the rut”. Society expects us to have all our shit sorted by now. So we take whatever steady income we can grab. We fill our days off with the chores we were supposed to do but never got around to doing. Any sort of adventure with friends takes weeks of planning, and we’ve forgotten we don’t always need money for fun.

We don’t spend our days surfing or fishing, or at the spa or shopping. We don’t go to the park or mountain climbing anymore. Instead we’re stuck in a rut of work, chores, educate, save money, brunch, work. Same thing day in day out. Same day off, same old thing... again and again.

But there is hope. Although it’s hard to see past the fog and climb our way out of this rut, there is hope. Accepting that we can do things alone is the first step. It’s more fun to get the gang back together? But it can also be just as fun and healing to go adventuring alone.

Cost effective planning. Not all days out need to involve money. Most outdoor activities require little to no cash. Being creative can also help the cash flow situation. Things like scavenger hunts, spending the day at a mates place playing cricket or board games. Hosting a dinner party, or taco night. Try going on a beach trip or scenic lookout. Going down to that new park or playground, rollerblading, bike riding. Even a good old fashioned follow this road and see where is takes us.

There may be some obstacles, scheduling, owning the equipment and making everyone actually commit. But by changing up your routine and getting back to the things we used to love, w can crawl out of this rut.

The point is that we are in our twenties, there are so many options! We just have to have th courage to chase down the things that will make us happy.

Keep dreaming,

Hey Dreamers,

Moving back in with mum! It’s that dreaded that sentence that at some point makes us feel a little less. Less independent, less adult-ish, and just less likely to have our shit together! It’s like a big kick in our gypsy nads! “You have to go back to your mum, you couldn’t make it by yourself. Back to the nest!” she sings dancing around my head. And unfortunately, I can’t just flick her out – that bitch rents that space for free!

I’m not as lucky as my inner gypsy that lives rent free. I live in the real world, I’ve got real bills. So, I’ve dragged myself back to the nest – but hey it really isn’t so bad, here’s why!

1.       FREE RENT! WIN

Thanks mum and dad for not renting my room to another struggling uni student, cause let’s face it that was a possibility. In some cases, coming back to the nest means a free place to rest your head in return for household chores. In other cases, some board is required for your stay, due to an increase in the grocery, electricity and internet bill! Because realistically we eat cause were bored and watch funny videos forever… and they say we have no culture!

2.       MY OWN SPACE!

My siblings have flown the coop too. Now it’s just us three in a big house, almost my own bathroom! I can decorate my room again, and I don’t have to label my food anymore, cause guess what, mum just buys in for me!

3.       Ok so I’m in my twenties and my mum still needs to know where I’m going and when I’ll be home. But hey, at least I know in the morning, after I’ve forgotten to put water and Panadol beside my bed – mums got my back!

I know it’s a small sacrifice to save a few dollars but look – free electricity, free wifi, free food, free washing/cleaning, bigger bathroom, your own room again, and dads always there when you start having car troubles. There’s an in-house nurse (mum), when we’re sick. On call best friend, cause she’s not like a regular mum, she’s a cool mum. And all the other benefits that come with having your family close by, (like being the first to know that over achieving cousin just messed up in some way). It’s always good to pitch in and do a load of washing, mop or shop… we don’t want to take advantage of our new nest. But all in all, “moving back into mum’s” isn’t always a disaster.

Shared housing is great. The more people, the cheaper the bills. But that’s it, its shared – and that means EVERYTHING! The bathroom, the kitchen, the living and the dining are all shared. Unless you live with a great group of people, and even then, sometimes you just need your own space. A space that isn’t your half-decorated room, because you can’t hang anything without approval!

Dreamers if you’re looking to save a little extra, and your parents have will take you back, it really isn’t the end of the world going back to the nest. Were still chasing that dream and letting our inner gypsy dance!

Keep dreaming,