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The age you officially become an adult, according to adult Americans
The age at which you officially become an adult has been designated thanks to a poll of 2,000 Americans, with some saying it starts when you pay your own bills.
The fountain of youth might be a myth but that hasnt stopped the human race from seeking immortality, or at least a few extra years. Everything from the vegan diet to hanging like a monkey has been linked with decreased biological age estimates, and while most of us believe old age starts at 75, when do we become adults?
Being an adult means less fun, the survey revealed
If you ask 100 people what age they became an adult, youll no doubt get 100 different answers. Though some would turn to biology for a solution, suggesting around 16, others would put forward the legal adult age of 18. Now theres another number for consideration.
In a survey conducted by Talker Research on behalf of Life Happens, researchers found that the world starts to feel real at age 27. Coincidentally, this is also the time your brain fully develops.
To back up this figure, 56% of participants said that paying your own bills marks adulthood and 45% said financial independence is the biggest sign of being an adult. Interestingly, 38% said you become an adult when you start choosing responsibilities over fun.
The findings seemingly tap into general fears amongst elder Gen Z as 81% feel under pressure to be more financially ahead than they are.
While its concerning to see that so many young people are not contributing to their retirement or purchasing life insurance, its never too late to start making those moves, said Kevin Mayeux, CEO of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors.
Being an adult is hard
Tellingly, 42% of all those surveyed reported that being an adult is harder than they expected – who knew? With crippled economies, political unrest, and the rise of technological superpowers, it should not be surprising that people are feeling the burn of adulthood in 2024.
Keeping that in mind, 39% of Americans feel they are not currently financially stable, with 41% of those doubting theyll ever achieve financial stability. That unrest only grows with age with 7% of Gen Z to a staggering 66% of baby boomers.
Brian Steiner, Executive Director at Life Happens, added: Gen Zs struggles and anxieties, paired with the fact that 71% of Americans surveyed believe that being an adult is harder today than it was 10 years ago, really underscores the importance of being financially prepared for whatever the future might hold.
In response, Gen Z has, of course, sparked financial trends like doom spending, the act of spending without thinking, and loud budgeting, the idea that you should be loud and proud about your financial concerns.
