Not all of the milestones that we used to have have disappeared. Rather, they’ve changed form in some way, usually because of the way that aging and expectations around these milestones have also evolved. Here are eight life milestones that no longer mean what they used to.
Getting your driver’s license at 16
Turning 16 came with the assumption that you’d be driving soon. But that’s not how things are in the modern age because Federal Highway Administration data shows that only around a quarter of 16-year-olds actually held a license in 2023. 60% of 18-year-olds said they also had a license.
Many young people don’t hold a license because they rely on ride-sharing apps or public transportation to get them around. That’s not to say that having a license isn’t useful. But it isn’t the milestone that shows you’ve become an adult like it once was.
Buying a brand-new car as a major adult purchase
Those who manage to get their driver’s licenses aren’t necessarily going to buy a brand-new car either. Many adults skip it altogether, and that’s why the average age of a car on an American road is 12.8 years. The cost of buying a new car is often higher than $50,000.
It’s because of these reasons that the majority of people stick to buying a used car or nothing at all. The act of buying a new car isn’t an automatic next step. You might find that many adults decide they’re not going to bother at all.
Moving out and staying out
There was a time when moving out was a one-way trip. It involved packing up and getting a place without ever really coming back, aside from holidays or other events. It’s not that way anymore. So many adults move out and move back, then move out again.
Data from the Pew Research Center found that around 1 in 5 adults aged between 25 and 34 still live with their parents. That number would’ve been shocking a few generations ago. But in this day and age, timing and rent prices mean that many young people are going back and forth. Life doesn’t go in a straight line anymore for all people. It’s hardly a sign of failure.
Aging off your parents’ health insurance at 22
Another parent-related milestone was when you finally aged off your parents’ health insurance plan. Most young people received a hard stop on health coverage once they graduated, usually at the age of 22, and that meant they were on their own the very next day.
It’s rather different these days. Quite a few young people will stay on their parents’ healthcare plan until they’re 26, regardless of whether they’re working full-time, because it’s just too expensive. Health insurance is no longer so closely tied to the day you finish school, and that pushes out the moment of taking adult responsibility even further.
Buying a “starter home” in your 20s
The times when homes were cheaper, and wages lined up more neatly, made it far easier to buy a home. It was normal for homeownership to be an important milestone. These days, though, first-time buyers tend to be older, with an average age of 40, and fewer buyers are first-timers at all.
You’ll find that many more young people will rent for longer and perhaps live in shared housing before taking the plunge. It’s still important to buy a home. The difference is that the time when it happens is far later than it used to be.
Getting married as an early adult step
One thing to know is that marriage itself hasn’t disappeared since it still happens for quite a few people. But its position on the timeline has shifted. Data from the US Census indicates that most first marriages happen when a man is 30 and a woman is 28, quite a change from the past.
Marriages once worked as a milestone to show the start of adult life. But the moment when two people tie the knot seems to appear only after years of working or living alone. It’s no longer strange to be unmarried in your 20s because it’s what the majority of young people are doing now.
Having your first baby in your early 20s
That’s not all for relationships. The time when people have babies is coming later as well, with the average age shifting to the late 20s. It’s no longer the early-20s like it once used to be. It’s mostly due to the fact that people spend more time in school and delay when they’re going to settle down properly.
Having a baby is as much of a milestone today as it was 20 years ago. It’s simply that people are choosing to have young ones later than they did before, and that’s changing the pace of adulthood overall.
Getting your first credit card at 18
The day you turned 18 was the day you’d receive a bunch of offers in the mail and claims of easy approvals for credit cards. It’s not that way now. The majority of credit card companies want proof of a steady income, especially when you’re under 21, and they won’t hesitate to ask for a co-signer before letting you sign up.
There are many first-time credit card users who began with secured cards or by being added onto their parents’ accounts. The milestone of getting your first credit card is more limited than in the past, and it’s often shared instead of being a solo achievement.
7 Old-School Manners That Would Get You Canceled Today
Along with typical stereotypes and other overtly outdated gender rules, a lot of “proper etiquette” manners related to social customs have not aged well – at all. Below are some “old-school” manners that would absolutely get you canceled, called out, or turned into a viral TikTok thread today.
7 Old-School Manners That Would Get You Canceled Today