http://www.famyouth.org.uk/bulletin.php?number=148

Lifelong marriage: more important than money, career or fame, say young and old alike

A marriage that lasts for life is the top aspiration of 18-24 year-olds, according to a survey conducted by the charity Friends of the Elderly.

The survey presented 2,000 young people with a list of over 50 life aims and asked them which one of them they considered the greatest achievement in life. Significantly, a lifelong marriage was viewed as the thing most worth aspiring to by 26 per cent of young people – a far higher proportion than selected any other option.

Having a successful career, travelling the world, retiring on a healthy pension, gaining wealth and fame, or owning a prestigious car or second home paled into insignificance compared with having a stable marriage and family life.

An identical question and list of options was also presented to 2,000 people over the age of 55. As they looked back on their lives so far, they too prized a lifelong marriage and becoming a parent more highly than anything else.

Ranking/Age	18-24	Over-55s
1	A marriage that lasts for life (26%)	A marriage that lasts for life (25%)
2	Being happy (14%)	Becoming a parent (19%)
3	Becoming a parent (10%)	Being happy (8%)
4	Seeing your child get married (8%)	Staying healthy (7%)
5	Putting children through university (4%)	To have no regrets (6%)
6	Being mortgage free (3 %)	Being mortgage free (3.25%)
7	Being able to share knowledge (2.2%)	Becoming a grandparent and to be instrumental in their lives (3.2%)
8	Owning a good quality watch (2.1%)	Putting children through university (2.75%)
9	Retiring on a healthy pension (1.94%)	Learning to accept yourself (2.7%)
10	Staying healthy (1.9%)	Seeing your child get married (2.6%)

* Friends of the Elderly: The top ten life achievements