The thought of paying bills and filing taxes can seem overwhelming to people beginning their adult lives. You’ll be faced with many new challenges and opportunities. The shift in lifestyles may seem intimidating, but being an independent adult can be extraordinarily rewarding. Here are a few ways to help make the transition to adulting a little easier:
1. Have a satisfying way of budgeting.
Bills aren’t as bad as most people make them seem, but they aren’t a walk in the park. Credit card payments, student loans, a car payment, and other financial obligations can easily be forgotten and lead to late fees. Have a way of budgeting that allows you to have a sense of satisfaction. There are charts on Pinterest to help you stay organized, or you can make your own checklist to keep track of bills.
If you’re nervous about paying bills or saving money, see if there is an automatic payment/withdraw option. For example, most loan payments will allow you to set up an automatic payment plan.
2. Always have an activity that’s fun (and free) to do.
In college, friends were always close by and there was free fun to be had on campus. As an adult, it’s harder to have fun without breaking the bank. On nights when you get the urge to go out on the town, but your bank accounts says otherwise, have something fun you can do that won’t cost a dime. You could go to a local bar that offers free arcade games, the park, the library, or other places sponsored by your local government that don’t have an admission fee.
At Reynolds and Reynolds, there are free and low-cost intramural leagues you can join after work. Some of the activities include softball, euchre, kickball, and volleyball. Joining one of these leagues is a great way to relax after the workday is over.
3. Have a go-to professional adult.
In any situation where you are inexperienced, you usually consult a professional or two. Adulting is no different. When you have questions over interest rates, healthcare, or bills, you’ll want a go-to professional adult to speak to. This adult could be one ofyour parents, a family friend, or someone older you trust to help make decisions about your future.
4. Let yourself sleep more.
When you work a regular schedule and don’t have homework assignments or projects, you get to experience a beautiful phenomenon called “8 hours of sleep.” If you don’t want to stay out until 3 a.m., stay home. When you need to (or want to) crawl into bed, go for it. You have a new list of responsibilities, and having enough sleep will help you be ready for the day’s activities and challenges.
5. Make friends at work.
Starting a new career can be a bit intimidating, but making friends at work can help with the first-day jitters. Your new friends will most likely invite you to activities outside of office hours, and help you build a social life in your new environment.
6. Prep meals.
One of the hardest transitions to adulting is learning how to live without acollege cafeteria meal plan. Making your own meals seven days a week can be exhausting, and goingout toeat can quickly cut into your budget. When you can, make multiple meals at once. This well help you stay on an eating schedule while not compromising health and nutrition. If you can, apply to work for a company with a built-in dining facility (like Reynolds) to help alleviate the stress of planning lunches during the work week.
Adulting may come with its own unique challenges and responsibilities, but people just like you have been mastering the art of getting older since the beginning of time. Don’t worry, with the right amount of planning, and little bit of determination, you’ll be just fine.
