Britons make their biggest life changes - including moving abroad, swapping careers or starting a business - in their thirties, survey reveals

By JOSHUA HAINING, NEWS REPORTER Published: 01:00, 8 August 2026 | Updated: 01:23, 8 August 2026 They used to say that life began at 40, but now it starts at 30 and hits the ground running. In fact, Britons make their biggest life changes during this milestone decade. On average, those who move abroad do it at 31, career changes take place at 32, entrepreneurs can expect to start a business at 33 and we are most likely to launch a side hustle at 34, a survey suggests. Four in ten said they became more ambitious than ever at 30, while 85 per cent are working towards a major life goal.  Despite this, however, people wait an average of two years before acting on their ambitions, leaving 20 per cent feeling a twinge of regret and admitting they wish they had taken the plunge sooner. Financial constraints, which were cited by 22 per cent, emerged as the biggest barrier holding people back, while a lack of confidence or self-belief was mentioned by 15 per cent, 13 per cent blamed a lack of time and 12 per cent were deterred by their fear of failure.  A major life event often provides the push people need to pursue long-held ambitions, the Vodafone Three survey of 2,000 Britons found. For those who said a life experience had been the biggest catalyst to change, the most common was bereavement (27 per cent), losing a job (25 per cent) and becoming a parent (25 per cent). Britons make their biggest life changes, including moving abroad, during their thirties, a survey has revealed More broadly, other triggers included achieving greater financial stability, which was mentioned by 23 per cent. The research also showed how central technology has become in helping people to turn ambition into action, with 42 per cent believing improved connectivity had helped them achieve their goals. More than half (55 per cent) said it had become easier to find opportunities thanks to digital tools, while 49 per cent believed they were better placed to achieve their ambitions today than five or ten years ago. Vodafone Three said: ‘Britain isn’t short of ambition. The challenge is turning ambition into action. Our research shows connectivity is increasingly part of that.’