What Most Young Adults Don't Realize About #Adulting
- Aubrey Rose
- Oct 20, 2017
- 4 min read
Becoming a legal adult is a huge cornerstone in anyone’s life. Once the clock strikes midnight, on their eighteenth birthday, they automatically become adults with freedom and independence and money, right?
Well, the truth is that most have got this idea all wrong.
Unfortunately, growing up and becoming an “adult” isn’t often as glamorous as one would preconceive. The steps may be similar in that yes, you become a legal adult that can technically live on your own and do things like buy cigarettes and go to strip clubs (in some states), in which case you also have the freedom to do whatever it is that you’re capable of doing, based on your current situation- but it isn’t all as easy as that.
Even before I turned eighteen, I knew three very important things about life after that (thanks to my parents):
1. Not working is not an option: If you want to be an operable member of society, you must be making and receiving income regularly.
2.Living even uncomfortably is costly: Everything costs money- your car, food, house, cable, water, internet, electricity, cleanliness, personal hobbies, porn. Did I say personal hobbies twice? (just kidding, I don’t even watch porn, ew)- At first, it seems my paychecks go directly from my hands and into someone else’s. You have to work especially hard now so that you can retire and enjoy the fruits of your labors later in life.
3. Work smarter not harder: Don’t just work your ass off at a minimum wage job for 20 years, find a position that is right for you and set yourself up so that you can progress in your career. Work towards more money for less time in the shop, NOT vice versa.
These are just things that I learned while working the summer before I officially moved out. Of course, I also learned quite a few things those two times that I was kicked out of the house, but that's a story for another time.
In the past two and a half months since I have been paying for myself and working as much as I can, I have learned even more things:
1. Budgeting is my bestie: I’m not going to go too far into it because I already wrote about the benefits of budgeting in my post a couple of weeks ago: The Benefits of Big, Beautiful Budgeting. But essentially, it is a HUGE help to know where my money is coming from and where my money is going
2. Simple lives aren’t bad ones: I used to think I would suffer or just be unsatisfied not being able to buy anything that I want for myself or having to shop a little less extravagantly- but really, this has just made me appreciate material things even more. I don’t really crave buying things the way that I had expected that I would and when I receive gifts from my best friend, Kayleen (who buys me things just because she thinks about me, bless her heart) I appreciate them so much more simply because it’s such a treat to receive such thoughtful things from my best friend.
3. The thrift store: There is NOTHING to be ashamed of when it comes to shopping at the thrift store. I honestly prefer it so much more than going to a discount store like Ross and buying something that is just going to fall apart after two washes. When I shop at the thrift store, I’m able to buy good quality clothes for a better price, the only caveat is that they were worn by someone else but really- I always wash my clothes before wearing them anyways- so as long as there aren’t any holes or rips, there’s no difference, really 😊
4. There’s great pride in great work: I work most days and I’ve got to say it’s a wonderful feeling. To go to work, bust my ass and then come home knowing that I made an impact on others’ days as well as my own is just so fulfilling- and when I receive my paycheck, I know damn well that I earned that shit :D
5. There is real value in doing nothing: Some days- like yesterday, for example- I come home from work and I just can’t keep going. My body is aching and giving out and just begging me to give it a break and sometimes I can’t do all of the things I planned to. My biggest issue has always been that I never want to be doing nothing or I feel like I’m wasting time but honestly, some days it’s just necessary to read and watch TV or just take a three hour nap. It’s SO important to rest your brain so that you can properly focus on things like work and productivity.
There are SO many more things to learn from adulting, but these were the main five that I thought to mention for tonight. If you guys like this post, I’ll include some more tips and tricks that I find on my #adulting journey.
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