This article originally appeared on VICE Germany.“Kids these days are lazy. Nobody wants to work anymore.” I bet you heard that a lot at Christmas, particularly after Uncle Nigel got his hands on the eggnog. But while it’s considered normal for a 20-something to work shit jobs and live in a micro-studio flat while figuring out who they want to be, some people have decided to opt out of this enticing lifestyle.
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In the UK, 13.8 percent of people aged 18 to 24 are Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEETs), meaning they pretty much “do nothing all day” except be healthy and potentially productive members of society. But what is it actually like to live a life where free time is bountiful? What do you do with your day if you don’t have to work? We spoke to some NEETs to find out.“After graduating high school, I started a degree in IT and quickly realised it wasn't for me. It wasn’t practical at all, and somehow both too demanding and too boring. During the programme, my father passed away. Thanks to his inheritance, I could afford to take some time to think about everything. “That was in 2018, five years ago. Since then, I've been considering which path is right for me. In the meantime, I enjoy my free time and still do some programming, but without any pressure. People have a hard time understanding my decision and often give me unsolicited advice. Sometimes, it bothers me, but I try not to let it get to me too much.“I’m happy. I don't live in luxury – I’m still at home – and if I continue like this, my financial cushion will last for about five more years. By then, I'll hopefully know how I want to proceed.” – David, 24
‘If I keep going like this, my financial cushion will last me five more years’
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‘In my social circle, doing nothing at all isn’t that uncommon’
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‘I radiate enthusiasm when talking about my life and free time’
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