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We’re considered adults once we turn 18. But let’s be real, we don’t really “adult” till we’re about 20 years old.
Adulting (v): to do grown up things and hold responsibilities such as, a 9-5 job, a mortgage/rent a car payment, or anything else that makes one think of grown ups.
In other words, “adulting” is getting off of your parents’ phone plan and not getting drunk three nights a week at a frat house or dance club.
The term’s usage has increased in the past year, making it one of the most popular hashtags with millennials — think #swag #lit #relationshipgoals.
I will be turning 20 in a few months, and I am NOT ready for this new way of life that is expected of me. For the last two years, my parents have been paying all of my bills. But now that it is culturally mandatory to adult, I will have to contribute a little more to my VERY expensive lifestyle.
I have been working part-time for three years, so I pay for all of the extra things I want and need such as groceries, clothes, makeup and short trips with my friends. I realized that though I stopped asking for money, it doesn’t mean that they stopped paying for me.
They continue to pay my medical bills, dentist visits, eye exams, phone bill and anything else I might be missing and taking for granted.
Adulting is different for everyone but for starters, stop asking your mommy and daddy for extra money. If that means getting a job, get a job. Having a job teaches you responsibility and will make you more valuable in the work force.
If this is your first job, get a minimum wage job working somewhere close to school or home. If you’ve been in the work force for a while, upgrade to a job closer to the career you want to spend the rest of your life doing.
The closest thing to an adult job I have done is partaking in a Monday to Friday, 9-5 internship this summer. But I am determined to find an entry level job relating to my major — adulting.
The most organized people seem to have their shit together, and if your shit isn’t together, fake it till you make it. A part of growing up is to stop relying on your parents to make decisions on how you spend your money and time.
It is important for adults to plan for the future, and there’s no better way to start planning for the future than to plan your daily schedule. So get to planning. Budgeting and planning go hand-in-hand, so when I say start planning, that also means start budgeting. Budgeting is important when you start saving and paying your own bills.
This semester will be the first time I have to pay for my college education with little to no help from my parents. I am sure they will help out if I need to, but they made it perfectly clear that I will have to start contributing more now that I hit my 20’s.
I will be paying my school tuition, half of my sorority bill and continuing to pay for everything else I have been paying for — “adulting.“
You would be surprised as to how many early 20-year-olds don’t know how to cook, until recently, including me. I used to consider making avo-toast and spaghetti “cooking” until I told my mom about this and she basically forced me to learn this summer.
She even pulled the “What if something were to happen to me?” card. That being said, I’ve learned how to make at least ten of my favorite dishes that require more than three ingredients. I’m not saying you have to be Julia Child in the kitchen, but learn how to cook a few things for a candlelit dinner.
Plus, you’ll save so much money for the bills you are about to start paying — adulting.
Like the fabulous Rihanna once said, “Come and put your name on it,” and I’m not talking about birthday cakes. Credit cards. We love them. Most of us know nothing about building credit, but 20 is the perfect time to start.
It will teach you responsibility and will help you get a loan. It may even help you land a job. Student credit cards are amazing because they have lenient qualification requirements, low annual fees and rewards for good grades and paying on time. If you’re already using a debit card, make the switch and treat your credit card as you do your debit – don’t spend more than you have — “adulting.”
Adulting doesn’t have to be hard or abrupt. So many people are forced to adult post-graduation and this sudden change could be very hard for some people, so ease into it while you’re in college. You can even make smaller changes to your life, such as eating healthier and drinking less if you don’t think you’re ready to start paying bills and working.
Adulting is a lot easier than it sounds. It’s all about trial and error, so get a move on with your life and stop relying on everyone else. And have faith in yourself. You’ve got this!
