We might not have it all figured out yet, but that doesn’t mean we can’t pretend!
1. Know basic car mechanics & maintenance. Know how to change a tire, check your oil (and know when it’s time to change it), check tire pressure, and to check your fluids.
2. Know how to prepare one meal really well. We might not all be Nigella Lawson in the kitchen, but knowing how to prepare one meal really well is so important. Feel free to whip it out next time your girlfriends come over for dinner to really impress.
3. Catch up on the classics. No matter how many CliffsNotes you had on hand in high school (no judgement), it’s never too late to catch up on classic literature. Don’t worry, it isn’t going anywhere, so you have plenty of time to re-explore these books.
4. Invest in quality pieces. You’re an adult now with a (hopefully) steady paycheck. The occasional trip to Forever 21 and H&M is okay, but stop buying piles of really inexpensive and cheaply-made clothing. Invest in quality pieces that you’ll wear forever.
5. Learn how to walk in high heels. It will take practice, but there are some helpful tutorials and YouTube videos out there to help you. Here’s a tip: when walking, visualize the bottom of your shoe as a flat plane instead of a separate heel and sole. I also suggest swinging your hips when you walk – it really does make it easier!
6. Learn how to properly tip. As someone who worked her way through college as a waitress, I occasionally felt the sting of a poor tip. Unless you had truly horrific service, a 20% tip is customary. Tip 30% or more for truly excellent service and never tip lower than 15%.
7. Know how to format a kick-ass resume. Believe or not, every time you submit your resume to a company, so do 50 other people (at least). Make your resume stand out from the stack with high-quality paper, clean formatting, a tasteful graphic (mine has a black & white bird sketch in the upper left corner), or a cool paperclip. A great-looking resume is the first step to getting an interview!
8. Know the inner workings of your credit cards. It does no one (except the credit card companies) any favors for you to remain in blissful ignorance about your credit cards. Take the time to look at the interest, annual fees, limits, APR, etc. and make sure that you’re not getting ripped off (hint: interest higher than 15% is bad news, no matter how enticing their offer may seem). The same goes for any outstanding student/car/home loan debt.
9. Do a monthly breast exam. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month! Don’t wait until your yearly physical; early detection saves lives.
10. Be confident. Don’t define yourself based on someone else. You are an independent person. Speak up. If you’re not getting what you want out of life, don’t sit around waiting for something to happen – you have to take charge and make it happen for yourself!
XO, J
