Millennials, Gen Z ditch hole years for ‘wise’ life objectives
Gen Zs are ditching the backpacks and opting for walking down the aisle instead of globe-trotting on a gap year.
Fresh research with 2,000 adults shows that those born after 1996 have got their eyes on the prize, keen on conventional life goals like getting hitched and starting a family.
A whopping 35% of them have marriage on the brain, and a close 34% want a gang of mini-mes running around.
And talk about forward-thinking a hefty 22% are already sussing out how to chuck in the work towel early!
The study, whipped up by John Lewis Money, has thrown up a surprise or two boomers, those sprightly souls between 1946 and 1964, are all about cashing in the air miles (36%) than settling the mortgage score (21%).
Even one in five (20%) boomers are revved up to get behind the wheel of a shiny motor, showing that flashy rides aren’t just for youngsters.
Meanwhile, millennials aged 28 to 43 aren’t slacking either they’re stashing away the pennies for a rainy day (36%) or just frothing for a home with its own slab of pavement (16%).
(Image: Getty Images)
Wayne D’Aranjo from John Lewis Money chimed in: “In a reversal of received wisdom, it’s interesting to see the traditional, and some would say very sensible, life moments and milestones that the younger generations aspire to experience – like becoming financially independent and saving for the future.”
“In contrast, it’s the older generation that class travelling abroad as their main priority.”
The new study has revealed that only one in ten baby boomers dream of owning a dog in their later years. This is in stark contrast to Gen Z, with almost a quarter saying they’d love a pooch in later life.
Nearly half of those over 40 (49%) reckon their life goals have barely shifted since they were 20. But on the bright side, a solid six in 10 (59%) still believe there’s plenty of time to tick off all their aspirations.
They’re banking on their savings (62%), earnings (40%) and investments (20%) to fund their dreams. Yet, one in 10 (9%) reckon they’ll need a lottery win to afford everything on their list.
Moreover, nearly half (46%) think it’s crucial to have a life bucket list, with the main reasons being it gives you something to aim for (63%) and injects a bit of excitement into life (54%).
Meanwhile, 37% of Gen Zs and millennials feel they’ve got more chances than the older folks because the world’s more connected, as per findings from OnePoll.
Wayne D’Aranjo chimed in: “Whether it’s a desire to have a family dog, or to buy a new car, just having a bucket list of what we want to achieve from life can be a good starting point to help make it actually happen.”
TOP TIPS FROM JOHN LEWIS MONEY TO HELP TURN YOUR BUCKET LIST INTO REALITY:
- Make a list – actually writing down what you want to achieve helps make a dream more real
- Check back on your list at least once a year – tick off and add to it, goals change as you progress through life
- Plan early for anything that requires a big budget – consider having a dedicated savings pot to help make one of your goals a reality
- Take small steps – break down the end goal into smaller, realistic chunks that will help move you closer to the dream
- Visualise it – picture yourself walking into your new home, driving that car, retiring early, swimming in the clear blue sea
