Holidays

In your twenties – In your early twenties, any bargain will do! You’re happy to travel to the other side of the world even if it’s only for three days, and you’ll survive on an average of two hours sleep a night if needs be. It’s an adventure! Chances are you also make some very random friends in dodgy hotels… 

In your thirties – By the time your thirties come around, romantic breaks or trips with one of two close pals begin to replace the crazy group package holidays of your twenties. Though you’re still well able to party until the wee hours, you’re also keen to see something other than the beach and the bar while at your holiday destination, and explore whatever region you’re spending those precious days off in. 

In your forties – In your forties, holidays are often a chance to spend quality time with family that can be sorely missing with today’s manic pace of life. Dream destinations sometimes give way to more practical choices suitable for small ones, but when the sun goes down on a happy family, the likelihood is you wouldn’t change it for the world. 

 

Money

In your twenties – In your twenties, it’s perfectly acceptable to live from payday to payday. No one will judge you, except maybe your parents, and your mates are all in the same boat. New clothes, holidays and nights out are key – and as long as your overdraft keeps you going to the end of the month, you’re laughing! 

In your thirties – In your thirties the fear starts to creep in – it’s time to be a real adult! You start worrying about the property ladder and money for a rainy day, and the spend-it-all excess of your twenties is a thing of the past. You still know how to treat yourself though, everyone deserves a treat…

In your forties – By the time your forties come around your spending is often less about you. If you have children, your monetary decisions are based around the family budget and how you can all get the best standard of living from the money you earn. You relish those moments you can have a guilt-free splurge on yourself, so remember – they’re well deserved!

 

Shoes

In your twenties – In your twenties, your legs still think they’re those of a teenager. Spindly six inch heels that you dance all night in but KILL you the second the music stops, so much so that you walk home with them in hand. Your collection might be a large one, in colourful and kitsch styles, but they were all bargain buys and you wouldn’t dream of stepping out for the night in flats. 

In your thirties – By your thirties, some of the more outrageous pairs have been binned, and your shoes are more carefully chosen. That’s not to say you won’t go for the hot pink or the feathered runway copies, but you’re more likely to opt for quality over quantity and spend €100 on one pair than €20 each on five pairs that are sure to look battered after their first outing.

In your forties – When you reach your forties, the quality over quantity mantra has reached its zenith. Space is at a premium, no matter how big your house is – you’ve been collecting possessions for forty years! So, you spend less often on shoes, but when you do, you go for the best you can afford in styles and colours set to stand the test of time.