Adulting 101: The post that started it all! Discount cards, xmas lights, and general food advice.
Adulting 102: Cacti, electric bills, and some inexpensive cleaning advice.
Adulting 103: Peeing after sex, chalkboard paint, and why you need scented trash bags in your life.
Adulting 104: Electric bill budgets, lint drawers, and why mixed greens are more trouble than they’re worth.
Adulting 105: Paper bills, Yankee Candles, and where to purchase postage stamps.
Adulting 106: Scented tampons, dishwasher pods, and why you should live next to a fire department.
Adulting 107: Command hooks, inexpensive bathroom decor, and why organic cucumbers are overrated.
Adulting 108: An Adulting post dedicated entirely to apartment hunting!
Adulting 109: Cleaning your shower head, condiments, and why you should never buy Dollar Store paper towels.
Adulting 110: Food hygiene, Airborne, and automatic payment advice.
The “Secret” To Doing Well in School:
Start on day one and don’t stop until you’re done.
As much as you will want to go hang out with your friends the second you get out of class on the first day, resist it. Head to the library, your room, or wherever else it is you get work done and just do it. On the first day you will have such little work to do that it will seem too insignificant to start right away. However, this helps set up the rest of the semester for you. If you can get in the habit of this before the work load gets daunting then procrastination will no longer be an issue. Sit down after your classes and finish all your work (or make a plan on how to finish it) before you relax. Simple as that. Do that and cramming will no longer be your life. If you think that’s too overwhelming, try challenging yourself to do that for 30 days. After the 30 days it will become a habit!
But maybe you’re of the opinion that procrastination is fine and that you do pretty well regardless. That’s fine. But think of how much easier studying would be if you didn’t procrastinate. By the end of week one you would have all of week one’s material down pat. You would have the opportunity to quickly review in the coming weeks instead of still struggling to learn it all. Then come the weekend before the test you will simply be reinforcing what you already know instead of struggling to have complete knowledge of what you’ll be tested on.
Boom. That A is easily within reach.
The culture behind procrastination unfortunately only ends up feeding the habit. The idea that procrastination is just a thing that everyone does and jokes around about is the worst part. Well, it’s time to take it seriously! There actually is no secret to doing well in school! You already know what you need to do. So start doing it!
this is still one of my favourite posts on here
accidentally reblogged to my main lmao
As somebody with executive dysfunction issues this is the only that works for me. Doing it now as soon as I walk in the door, or doing something as soon as I roll out of bed is the best way to make sure whatever it is gets done
I’m going to give you the best piece of Adult Life Is Hard advice I’ve ever learned:
Talk to people when things go to shit.
I don’t just mean get it off your chest, although that’s good. I mean: Something’s wrong with your paycheck/you lost your job/you had unexpected emergency car repairs and now you’re broke so your credit card payment is late. Like, not just 15 days late. We’re talking, shit got crazy and now you’re 90 days late with compounded interest and late fees and the Minimum Payment Due is, like, $390, and you’ve got about $3.90 in your bank account. Call the credit card company.
I know it’s scary. I know you feel like you’re going to get in trouble, like you’re gong to get yelled at or scolded for not having your life together. But the credit card company isn’t your parents; they’re just interested in getting money from you. And you can’t squeeze blood from a stone or money from someone who doesn’t have any. So what you do is you call them. You explain you’re experiencing temporary financial hardships, and you’re currently unable to bring your account up to date, but you don’t want to just let it get worse. Can you maybe talk to someone about a payment plan so you can work something out? Nine times out of ten you’ll be able to negotiate something so that at least it’s not just taking a constant, giant shit on your credit score.
– Can’t pay your power bill? Call the power company.
– Can’t pay your full rent? Talk to your landlord.
– Had to go to the hospital without insurance and have giant medical bills looming in your place? Call the hospital and ask if they have someone who helps people with financial hardships. Many do.
– Got super sick and missed half a semester of class because flu/pneumonia/auto-immune problems/depressive episode? Talk to your professor. If that doesn’t help, talk to your advisor.
You may not be able to fix everything, but you’ll likely be able to make improvements. At the very least, it’s possible that they have a list of people you can contact to help you with things. (Also, don’t be afraid to google things like, “I can’t pay my power bill [state you live in]” because you’d be surprised at what turns up on Google!) But the thing is, people in these positions gain nothing if you fail. There’s no emotional satisfaction for them if your attempts at having your life together completely bite the dust. In fact, they stand to benefit if things work out for you! And chances are, they’ll be completely happy to take $20 a month from you over getting $0 a month from you, your account will be considered current because you’ve talked to them and made an agreement, you won’t get reported to a collections agency, and your credit score won’t completely tank.
Here’s some helpful tips to keep in mind:
1. Be polite. Don’t demand things; request them. Let me tell you about how customer service people hold your life in their hands and how many extra miles they’ll go for someone who is nice to them.
2. Stick to the facts, and keep them minimal unless asked for them. Chances are they’re not really interested in the details. “We had several family emergencies in a row, and now I’m having trouble making the payments” is better than “Well, two months ago my husband wrecked his bike, and then he had a reaction to the muscle relaxer they gave him, and then our dog swallowed a shoestring and we had to take him to the emergency clinic, and just last week MY car broke down, and now my account’s in the negatives and I don’t know how I’m gonna get it back out.” The person you’re talking to is aware shit happens to everyone; they don’t need the details to prove you’re somehow “worthy” of being helped. They may ask you for details at a certain point if they have to fill out any kind of request form, but let them do that.
3. Ask questions. “Is there anything we can do about X?” “Would it be possible to move my payment date to Y day instead so it’s not coming out of the same paycheck as my rent?” The answer may be “no.” That’s not a failure on your part. But a good customer service person may have an alternate solution.
Anyway! I hope that helps! Don’t just assume the answer is “no” before you’ve even begun. There is more help out there than you ever imagined.
When you guys have visited potential apartments, what kind of questions did you ask besides the basics like what rent and utilities include?
Here are questions I didn’t ask but should have: what does the basement look like?
What measures are taken to secure the building ?
Are the walls thin?
Brief info of who lives in the building. Are they college kids? People that work through the day? Elderly? Is it a mix?
Where does the garbage go?Can I pay rent bi-weekly?
What kind of fuses does the apartment use? (My fuse box is in the basement. If I blow a fuse I have to replace it myself. They screw until the box. All of which I didn’t know until it happend and I was sitting in the dark suddenly)Who do I call for repairs? (If it’s a private rental)
Am I allowed to paint the walls?
Is there any additional storage?
Do you do regular pest control?count the outlets, ask about recycling policies, ask if there’s a noise restriction (nothing loud after midnight, everything goes on the weekend, etc)
LAUNDRY FACILITIES
Definitely ask about security
Whether subletting is allowed (esp if you’re in college and might want to sublet for the summer)
If you have a car, whether there’s parking/how much it costs
What kind of heating/AC there is
Procedure/response time for any maintenance
How mail/packages are received/protected from theft (seriously people stealing your packages can be a huge problem)
What kind of verification of your salary will they want, and in what circumstances will they accept a guarantor instead?
Whether the apartment is furnishedAssuming you are in the middle of looking at/choosing between places:
When does the lease start? Are you going to give preference to people based on when they can move in?
Whether groups of a certain number of people get preference
Really anything about who they prioritize for applications, it can save you a lot of trouble in trying to apply to places you’ll never get intonot something for asking the realtors, necessarily, but important rights you should be aware of as a tenant:
when and for what reasons are your landlords allowed to enter your home? how much of a notice should they give you before entering?
can the landlord make modifications to your home or apartment without your approval? to what extent?
what are the options and conditions for breaking your lease early if there’s an emergency? (this is ESPECIALLY important for anyone moving to a new state/considerable distance where you are not able to visit the apartment/home before you rent – students get taken advantage of ALL THE TIME with this shit)
if your first or last month at the property is a partial stay (i.e. you move in on july 15th, and rent is typically due on the first) make sure you don’t pay the full first month’s rent before you know the area laws! in many states, you are only legally required to pay for the time you are occupying the property
is renter’s insurance necessary? many apartments want at least 30k coverage, which can run a couple hundred dollars extra per year
are the landlords/property management liable for crimes on the property? for example, if your car was broken into. if not GET RENTER’S INSURANCE
-ask if there’s any property upkeep you can do to get a bit off the rent (aka, can they take 100$ off the monthly rent if you maintain the lawns/garden, etc.)
-ask if there’s been any consistent/frequent trouble with electricity/internet connectivity/cable if you have it
-what KIND of electricity?
-what kind of heating (hot water/electric)
-how secure is the neighborhood (if you don’t know)
-ANY PLUMBING ISSUES? check ALL the fucking taps, the showers, EVERYTHING WITH WATER to make sure it all works right.
-ANY PLUMBING ISSUES? check ALL the fucking taps, the showers, EVERYTHING WITH WATER to make sure it all works right.
I CANNOT SECOND THIS ENOUGH.
ALSO
– who last lived here? why did they leave?
– Do they charge an “amenities fee” (Around here you can’t avoid them at all now, but some places you might still be able to)
– Do they have a policy on rent increases? (Also check if there’s a legal limit to rent increases in the area).
– Are utilities paid in a separate check or with the rent?
– Are utilities metered or pro-rated (in older buildings it’s common to be charged by square footage and/or number of occupants, which can leave you subsidizing the people who turn the a/c down to 60 in the summer or the heat up to 80 in the winter – you may not be able to avoid this but it’s worth trying).
– Are there any switched circuits in the apartment. Buildings built in the late sixties through the early eighties often have switched circuits. If they do, then with the number of devices used these days you will probably have to have something important on the switched circuit – tape the switch in the on position! (Trust me).
– What are the rules on hanging pictures?
– Who is responsible for paying for and replacing bulbs in permanent fixtures? If it’s you and there’s a fixture with weird/unusual bulbs (globe style, chandelier style, etc) ask where you can buy the bulbs.
– What are the rules about pets? Do they have breed specific restrictions on dogs? Size restrictions on fish tanks? (Believe it or not that’s not uncommon).
This will be so useful once my lease is up thanks tumblr ☺️🙏🏾
If you have roommates, even if they’re your friends, ask what happens if one person moves out. Who is responsible for their rent? What about security deposit, how much is it and what do you have to do to document existing damages before you move in?
– It’s boring as hell, but read the lease before you sign it! Ask questions and clarify anything you notice that seems weird or that you don’t understand. I had a landlord that required I get the carpets professionally steam cleaned (which I didn’t realize until we were moving out because I didn’t read the entire lease) and another that tried to keep part of my security deposit because I didn’t pay for professional cleaning, but we got the money back because it wasn’t part of their lease that we’d signed.
– Take pictures/make detailed notes about damages already present on move-in. Add additional sheets to what they give you if needed because chances are they’re going to be just as nitpicky when you move out to try and keep part of your security deposit.
– An addition to the hanging pictures – ask what they allow you to use (nails/screws or tape only) and whether they want you to repair the holes to keep part of your deposit. If you’re planning to wall mount your TV, ask specifically about using molly bolts because they’re going to leave a much larger hole than a picture nail.
GET IT ALL IN WRITING. I CANNOT stress enough that if a realtor/rental company says it’s ok you need to get it in writing or they can flat out deny it was ever a thing.. Get everything in writing if you are able to.
And treat refusing to put it writing as an enormous red flag.
Also, be aware if you are renting a place adjacent to your landlord: the ONLY thing that counts is the written documentation from the management company or the official landlord. The 95 y/o parent or parent-in-law of the property owner telling you it’s fine to have pets/cats/birds/fish/dogs/horses or whatever other special thing does not actually legally make it fine.
On the same note, if they do allow pets, not only ask what kinds (breeds AND sizes) are allowed, but find out if they require a secondary pet security deposit (to cover the cost of repairs /cleaning directly resulting from having the pet) and/or a separate insurance policy for same/liability (like if your pet bit someone on the property, you’re likely to be on the hook for that, not the landlord) .
Pro tip for adulting: being late isn’t a death sentence for 95% of things. All you gotta do is call the moment you realize you’re gonna be late, apologize, and then give another small apology when you get there. The thing people really don’t like about lateness is that it seems like the other person doesn’t value their time, and since calling shows that you value their time, that leaves only the mild inconvenience of waiting a bit for them to deal with
this is 100% true. Calling ahead to let them know you’ll be late is 100000x better than just showing up late without any notice. Everyone has been late before so most of the time they’ll understand being late. Just don’t make a habit of it
In case no one told you growing up
- Bras last longer if you let them air dry. Don’t put them in the dryer.
- If you have a problem with frizzy hair, don’t dry your hair with a towel. It makes the frizzies worse. (I recently read an article that said to use a t-shirt? I brush mine out and let it air dry.)
- Whites wash best in hot water. Everything else can be in cold – save on your electricity bill.
- You can kill 99.9% of germs in a sponge by putting it in the dishwasher for a cycle or by microwaving it for 2 min (be sure to make the sponge damp before microwaving and to put a cup half full of water in with it and please DO NOT squeeze the sponge until it has cooled off)
- Airing out your room/house and letting sunlight in every so often can decrease the number of household pests like silverfish and ants.
- Black underwear is best during your period as stains are less likely to be visible.
- To save money, put aside 10% of each paycheck into a savings account. It’ll add up.
- Unless your hair has something on/in it (like grease or mud or something), using conditioner first can actually be the better choice. The conditioner holds in the good oils that help you hair look sleek and beautiful, which shampoo would otherwise wash away.
- Speaking of shampoo – if you have long hair, washing just the bits that touch your scalp is generally enough. The rest of your hair gets cleaned with just the run off from your scalp.
- If you put a tampon in and it’s uncomfortable/you can feel it, you didn’t do it quite right. A properly placed tampon is virtually unnoticeable by the wearer.
- Apply deodorant/antiperspirant a couple hours in advance of when you need it. This gives the product the chance to block your sweat glands. Using deodorant just before going somewhere where you’ll sweat (this means walking outside for people in high humidity places) results in your sweat washing the deodorant off and starkly limiting its usefulness.
- After running the dryer, use the dryer sheet from that load to brush out the lint catch – it gets everything off in a fraction of the time it’ll take you to get it clean with your bare hands. Paper towels also work well.
- Wash your face everyday, or as often as possible. Forget which brand of cleanser is best. Just washing your face everyday will guarantee you clearer skin. And do you best not to pop pimples, as tempting as the urge may be.
- Fold laundry asap after taking it from the dryer to avoid wrinkles. This may seem obvious for dress shirts and silly for things like t-shirts, but you’ll notice the difference even then once your shirts stop looking like unfolded paper balls.
To all the kids whose parents couldn’t help you with this kind of stuff
Addition: the natural acidity of a vagina can bleach the gusset on darker underwear. It’s perfectly normal.
i did not know some of this stuff, so useful!
In case no one told you growing up
- Bras last longer if you let them air dry. Don’t put them in the dryer.
- If you have a problem with frizzy hair, don’t dry your hair with a towel. It makes the frizzies worse. (I recently read an article that said to use a t-shirt? I brush mine out and let it air dry.)
- Whites wash best in hot water. Everything else can be in cold – save on your electricity bill.
- You can kill 99.9% of germs in a sponge by putting it in the dishwasher for a cycle or by microwaving it for 2 min (be sure to make the sponge damp before microwaving and to put a cup half full of water in with it and please DO NOT squeeze the sponge until it has cooled off)
- Airing out your room/house and letting sunlight in every so often can decrease the number of household pests like silverfish and ants.
- Black underwear is best during your period as stains are less likely to be visible.
- To save money, put aside 10% of each paycheck into a savings account. It’ll add up.
- Unless your hair has something on/in it (like grease or mud or something), using conditioner first can actually be the better choice. The conditioner holds in the good oils that help you hair look sleek and beautiful, which shampoo would otherwise wash away.
- Speaking of shampoo – if you have long hair, washing just the bits that touch your scalp is generally enough. The rest of your hair gets cleaned with just the run off from your scalp.
- If you put a tampon in and it’s uncomfortable/you can feel it, you didn’t do it quite right. A properly placed tampon is virtually unnoticeable by the wearer.
- Apply deodorant/antiperspirant a couple hours in advance of when you need it. This gives the product the chance to block your sweat glands. Using deodorant just before going somewhere where you’ll sweat (this means walking outside for people in high humidity places) results in your sweat washing the deodorant off and starkly limiting its usefulness.
- After running the dryer, use the dryer sheet from that load to brush out the lint catch – it gets everything off in a fraction of the time it’ll take you to get it clean with your bare hands. Paper towels also work well.
- Wash your face everyday, or as often as possible. Forget which brand of cleanser is best. Just washing your face everyday will guarantee you clearer skin. And do you best not to pop pimples, as tempting as the urge may be.
- Fold laundry asap after taking it from the dryer to avoid wrinkles. This may seem obvious for dress shirts and silly for things like t-shirts, but you’ll notice the difference even then once your shirts stop looking like unfolded paper balls.
To all the kids whose parents couldn’t help you with this kind of stuff
I was trying to add onto this long post about life advice and adulting and tumblr isn’t letting me, so here’s some unsolicited advice from me anyway, and go read the original post for more:
- You never really feel 25 or 37 or 52. But you will look around one day and realize “holy shit I’m almost 40″. It’s just a number and everyone feels that way.
- Buying popcorn by the bag and making it on the stove is cheaper then microwave.
- Splurge sometimes and get the expensive ice cream/good chocolate/a candy bar. it won’t kill you and sometimes you just need a treat.
- That said, ice cream is a bad idea for breakfast
- Take a walk, if you can. Sunshine is good for you and it’s too easy to hole up in the house and barely see the light of day.
- Go shopping late at night or early Sunday morning if you want to avoid the crowds. Never Sunday afternoon or just before a holiday.
- Never stop learning. Even if it’s just reading a Wikipedia article that catches your eye
- You don’t need to be ashamed of the things you love. It’s perfectly fine to be a 45 year old who loves a tv show and writes fanfic, or a thirty year old that loves a boy band. You’re never too old to love things.
- If you live with other people, and it’s feasible, have a space of your own
- Avoiding looking at the bills doesn’t make them go away
- Remember credit cards are high interest loans you need to pay back
- In this day and age there’s a YouTube video for just about anything you’d like to learn
- Try anything and everything, even if it scares you (well probably not hard drugs). At least you’ll know you tried.
Didn’t Hamilton forget his bank account number once or something
ok i left you the answer on snapchat but here’s an actual reference rather than just my word. but uh yeah he lost his checkbook and so he also lost his account balance:
“Months after leaving office, he wrote to the Bank of the United States and admitted that he did not know his account balance because he had lost his bank book—this from the man who had created the bank.” (Alexander Hamilton, Chernow, 502)
I told one of my coworkers this when she was stressing about handling Adult Stuff and her response was “I feel so much better now.”