YOUNG people nowadays would rather spend their money on travelling instead of buying a home or paying off debt.
And who could blame them?
Research has shown that instead of home ownership, travelling the world takes priority for many young people.
A survey of millennials (that's people aged 18 to 35, just in case like me you had to look it up) reveals that over half rank travel as a higher life priority than buying a home.
Purchasing a car came further down the list again as did paying off debts.
The study of travel habits of this particular age group asked them to prioritise their finances over the next five years with the trend of spending their hard-earned cash on travel experiences rather than status symbols emerging triumphant.
Chip Conley from Airbnb, which carried out the research, said "status today comes from being in the know, from experiencing and sharing something that your friends haven't seen before".
"Millennials don't want assets weighing them down as they have to be taken care of. Owning a car or a home reduces your choices," he said.
"Most of these people don't own a home or have a landlord, and being in a box doesn't work for them."
The research came just a few days after a travel experience of a friend popped up on my social media newsfeed, as she relived a journey of a lifetime she had embarked on a decade ago.
With a backpack on her back and a vague itinerary to explore the world, she visited more than 10 countries and three continents, experiencing so many different cultures during a wonderful year of travelling.
For me, and like many of you I would imagine, the journey has been somewhat different.
While I may have visited several countries across the world over recent years, all of these trips were slightly shortlived compared to the leisurely tours undertaken by others.
My journey sounds something like this: Save. Use savings towards deposit for first house. Begin paying mortgage.
Save. Continue to pay off mortgage. Throw a few children into the mix and pay out even more. Take out a bigger loan. Upgrade house. Repeat for 30 years.
Perhaps then I will retire and use what's left of any savings to cram in as much fun into retirement as time and health will allow.
There's always a debate surrounding the short-term satisfaction of travelling versus the long-term gain of investing.
Sure, you could blow a lot of money on holidays, living the high life and in five years' time barely remember the places you visited.
Alternatively, you could be sensible and invest in the future. You could even find yourself mortgage-free in your late forties and begin your travel opportunities then.
If, like me, you have taken the saving and investing route in life and decided against travelling, then good for you. But I have to say it's not the only way to live.
Part of me envies those who have been bitten by the travelling bug and followed that path. Certainly saving and investing is good, earning money is good. But enjoying life is good too.
While many would say the millennial generation are acting irresponsibly by uprooting and going travelling, realistically owning your own home, paying off debts and building up savings is an impossible prospect for many young people nowadays.
Is it little surprise that they value the ability to escape from it all?
A house and contents weighs you down. Maybe in a good way, like an anchor. But it can also make it impossible to move, becoming one more barrier between you and living that dream.
Perhaps we shouldn't always encourage young people out there to get on the property ladder as soon as they can. Maybe spending money on experiences can buy real happiness.
-------------------------------------------
Competition
For the second year running US University ice-hockey is set to invade Belfast, with the NI Connections Friendship Four ice hockey tournament taking place at the SSE Arena on November 25 and 26.
To celebrate, the Stena Line Belfast Giants Belfast Giants have teamed up with The Irish News to offer a lucky family-of-four the chance to win a family weekend pass worth £99.
A weekend pass is the only way to access all four NI Connections Friendship Four tournament games offering an action-packed, thrilling festival of ice hockey.
This year the tournament hosts four American teams - Quinnipiac University, University of Vermont, St Lawrence University and University of Massachusetts. Information on the teams, players and the tournament is available on www.friendshipfour.com
To be in with a chance to win the family weekend pass to the Friendship Four tournament, simply email your name, address and telephone number - along with the answer to the question below - to competitions@irishnews.com
Closing date for entries is Tuesday November 22 at noon.
(Q) Name the Belfast venue where NI Connections Friendship Four ice hockey tournament will take place.
Normal Irish News Rules Apply
-------------------------------------------
What's Hot!
Dust off your Christmas jumpers - Cancer Fund for Children is urging people to get into the Christmas spirit in December by taking part in their festive jumper day campaign, All Wrapped Up. The charity is encouraging businesses, schools, clubs and community groups to get together in their cosiest, cheesiest and most outrageous Christmas jumpers to support families devastated by cancer this Christmas. Please visit www.cancerfundforchildren.com/events
Dance - Pop star Alesha Dixon is stepping back into a prime time dance series as the host of a new programme that challenges celebrities to recreate famous routines. The former Strictly Come Dancing judge will host Dance Dance Dance, due to launch in the new year.
What's Not!
Threats - Financial journalist Martin Lewis has revealed he received death threats during the EU referendum after the Remain campaign used his photograph on their leaflets. He said after Stronger In Europe used a quote and photograph on an official leaflet he received abuse from voters.
No love lost - Reports claim Irish TV presenter Laura Whitmore had a difficult relationship with her Strictly Come Dancing partner Giovanni Pernice before she was eliminated from the show.
------------------------------------------
Competition winner
The winner of last week's competition to win a £50 voucher for World of Wonder is Angela Hollywood from Crumlin.
------------------------------------------
Easy Peasy Recipe
This week's Easy Peasy Recipe is mini sweet potato tarts.
You will need:
350g sweet potato, peeled and diced
1 pack shop-bought shortcrust pastry
180ml light evaporated milk
2 egg whites
4 tablespoons caster sugar
2 tablespoons dark brown soft sugar
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
4 tablespoons halved cranberries (optional)
To make:
Place the sweet potato in a saucepan with just enough water to cover.
Bring to the boil and cook until fork tender, about 5 minutes. Drain and mash with a fork or potato masher.
Preheat the oven to 220 C / Gas mark 7.
Divide the pastry into 24 small balls, reserving remaining pastry for another use.
Press the balls into the cups of two 12 cup mini muffin tins to make tartlet shells. Set aside.
Spoon the sweet potato into a blender or food processor and add the evaporated milk, egg whites, caster sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. Puree until smooth.
Spoon about 1 tablespoon of this mixture into each tart shell.
Bake for 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a skewer inserted into one of the tarts comes out clean.
Cool in the tins over a wire rack.
Garnish each tart with a cranberry half before serving.
Do you have an Easy Peasy recipe you would like to share?
Are you the queen of quiches, magnificent at muffins or can you turn out some nice scones?
If so, then we want to hear from you.
You can send your name, address, contact number and recipe (plus photo if possible) to:
Easy Peasy Recipes,
Suzanne McGonagle,
Irish News
113-117 Donegall Street,
Belfast,
BT1 2GE
or
s.mcgonagle@irishnews.com
