“I can’t wait to be 18!” I remember saying (or more accurately, shouting) that phrase more times than I can count. By the time I turned 16 and had my own car, I was already counting down the days. It felt like freedom was just around the corner. Then, the big day...
“I can’t wait to be 18!” I remember saying (or more accurately, shouting) that phrase more times than I can count. By the time I turned 16 and had my own car, I was already counting down the days. It felt like freedom was just around the corner. Then, the big day arrived. I was finally an adult, with the freedom to do whatever I wanted.
Fast forward a decade, and here I am, writing this. Looking back, I can’t deny that the idea of this freedom I was so convinced came with aging into an adult was the furthest thing from actuality and honestly, it hit me like a freight train.
Everything I thought I knew about being a grown-up was totally off the mark. Mistakes piled up at 18, more at 21, and by 25? Let’s just say I got very familiar with screwing up. And even as the years passed—25, 26, 27—I was still stumbling through lessons (mostly learned the hard way).
Things got even messier when I met the wrong people, fell into the wrong activities and addiction entered the picture. Suddenly, my health, my mind, my confidence—everything—was in shambles. My whole life really.
Days blurred into weeks, weeks stretched into months, and before I knew it, years had passed while I kept promising myself I’d “get it together tomorrow.” Then, one day, I stumbled across photos from my high school’s reunion: “Happy 10-Year Anniversary, Class of 2014.” And just like that, it hit me—10 years? A whole decade gone in what felt like a blink. Where had I been all that time?”
The truth hit hard: Life doesn’t stop. The world keeps moving, even when you’re standing still—or, in my case, falling apart. Aging happens every single year, whether you’re ready for it or not. But becoming an adult? That’s something different altogether.
Being an adult is more than just getting older. Hitting the age mark is only a new title.. just a thing to call yourself. “I’m 18!” is not an indicator that you’re an adult by any means.
It’s mastering certain life skills, taking care of yourself, and showing up for your responsibilities, no matter how daunting they may feel.
Now that I can recognize these things, I’m much more focused on what successful adulthood looks like for me. Not to mention, if there was a wrong way to do do something in early adulthood, I can almost promise with 100% certainty, I’ve already messed it up. For these reasons, I’ve created a category on this blog dedicated to life and it’s lessons. Hacks, hints, do’s and definitely don’t do articles all curated to make life a bit easier.
The bare basics of surviving adulthood is where we will start.
So, whether you’re just starting to figure out this whole “adulting” thing or you’re a fan of a good list post, this guide is for you. By the end, you’ll have the foundation to confidently handle some challenges of adulthood—maybe not with perfect grace, but certainly with less panic.
1. The not so nice “B-Word”
(NO! not that one.. ) The other one: budgeting
Budgeting is pretty much the foundation of adult life. Think of it like the broccoli of adulthood—not the most exciting thing, but it’s absolutely necessary. Sure, it may not always be fun, but once you get a handle on your finances, life can feel a whole lot less stressful. Imagine reaching a point where you don’t have to check your bank account every time you want to grab lunch or pay a bill. For a lot of us in the middle class, that sounds like a dream. So, how do we get there faster? Let’s break it down.
The 50/30/20 Rule
- 50% of your income goes to necessities (rent, utilities, groceries).
- 30% is for discretionary spending (eating out, entertainment).
- 20% is for savings and debt repayment.
Tools and Resources:
- Mint: A free app that helps you track your spending, set budgets, and monitor your credit score.
- YNAB (You Need A Budget): Paid app with a strong cult following, great for those who want a more hands-on approach to budgeting
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