Traditional ideas about what to do with your hard-earned money are being rethought by millennials. The idea of saving enough to retire — that is, missing out on life until you’re older, wiser, and sittfer — is waning pretty fast. Millennials just don’t seem to care as much about retirement nest eggs. Their priorities are more about living in the now #FOMO. This isn’t just older generation lamentations, the proof is in the numbers.
Bank of America’s Merrill Edge analyzed the spending habits of 1,000 18 to 34 year olds to gauge where that bracket’s money is being spent. It’s not going to IRAs and 401Ks. Their study found that “81% of millennials were more likely to spend on travel” instead of any other big ticket items. Moreover, a whopping 65 percent preferred to spend money on dining. That’s a lot of avocado toast.
Basically, this generation is living in the moment. Millennials are spending their money now to gain experience that will pay dividends for the rest of their lives. The head of Merrill Edge, Aron Levine, put it this way, “We’re seeing millennials save to live their desired lifestyle, not for an exit strategy to leave the workforce.” Levine contrasts this to the previous generations having a laser focus on saving enough cash to exit the workforce as soon as possible.
The shifting attitude towards work, life, and where and how you utilize your cash will certainly draw criticisms and lauds depending on the crowd you’re in. At Uproxx, we believe in travel as a game-changing force for good, for growth, and for future greatness. And in that respect, we’ve compiled a list of six iconic destinations to hit this year. These are a few stone-cold classics that every traveler has to see at least once in their lives.
YELLOWSTONE, USA
You don’t have to leave the country to see the wonders of the world. Yellowstone is a super volcano that’s been inhabited for over 10,000 years. The wildlife is a slice of what this continent once was and what it can again become if create a better balance of man, beast, and nature.
RIO DE JANIERO, BRAZIL
Down South America way you’ll find one of the most fun places to eat, live, party, lounge, laugh, and love on the planet. Rio is a city of multitudes that runs the gamut of humanity from the slums to the riches within a few blocks. And the wonder that is Rio is in gaps between the madness and cacophony of life.
TANGIER, MOROCCO
Tangier has been a crossroads of humanity for millennia. The city’s Kasbah is a winding and mysterious labyrinth of tea shops, frying fish, wafting hash, lumbering artists, and old world charisma. It’s the perfect place to get a little high then get a little lost looking for the ghost of Paul Bowles and his Tangerine cohorts.
ROME, ITALY
The Eternal City really does have it all. The food really is that good. The wine, beer, and bar scene really are that fun. And the of moments, art, and culture really are that important and breathtaking. What makes Rome stand out is the ability to feed your touristy side and your desire to blend in like a local all at the same time. Within 15 minutes you can go from snapping Instagram posts at the Trevi Fountain to a cafe in Trastevere where you can throw on some stylish shades and while away the day sipping Negronis and watching folks go about their business like a local.
AO NANG, THAILAND
Spending some hard-earned cash at beaches this fucking beautiful is a must at least once (or twice) in a lifetime. A lot of people go to Thailand and they end up staying. Looking at Ao Nang, it’s easy to see why. The beaches are perfection. The food is stellar and stupid cheap. And Thailand is known to enjoy a party or two. Places like Ao Nang are the perfect combination of lazy beach days and crazy party nights, with a few doses of “I do whatever I want” in between.
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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA
Trust us, the long flight is worth it. Melbourne is the food capital of Australia. You’ll find streets lined with pubs dishing out amazing grub and local brews at almost every turn. Plus, it’s Australia. You’ll be surrounded by a wild and pristine country the size of the United States with fewer people in it than California. Roam free. Roam far.
