I’m 24 and I go back and forth on this one. On one hand, I feel a societal/familial-induced pull to “have it together”. And on the other, I want to enjoy my youth and health while I still have it. I know that as I get older, the social opportunities available to me will diminish or at the very least pursuing them will become taboo..
I spent my early 20s living an extremely reclusive life, if that provide any helpful context
Unfortunately there isn't really a clear answer here. I didn't really accomplish either. I was shy and exclusive and instead of saving I was helping support family and friends. I think I'm at a point where I wish I would have had more financially discipline then though I wouldn't have wanted to just abandon people.
I wish I had done more of both. But I'm also wishing I could get out and live more now. The desire to do so didn't fade with age. Had I been more financially disciplined I'd probably be able to do a lot more now
It's better to go live now. I waited until my late 30's and now I'm super behind. I wish I had not been so responsible early on because it didn't do me any good anyway. Enjoy. Live. Experience. There's always ways to make it.
I think you should get out there and live a little since you spent your early 20s reclusive, but really there's no wrong way to live your life as long as you're doing something that makes you happy. ^^
Within reason, you should be able to both put aside cash for later in life as well as saving up to get out there and experience things. It might mean that it takes that bit longer between experiences, but it gives you time to really plan and anticipate whatever you're going to do.
It's very individual. I'd say if you are overall healthy, I mean physically and mentally, it's better to get out there and experience the life. Otherwise take it in a slower lane, try to fix what you can first. Small, safer adventures, etc. Also depends if you have support in your family so you'd have someone to lean on in case things go wrong.